What are the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching?
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 mathematics and science (including computer science) teaching. Established by Congress in 1983, the PAEMST program authorizes the President to bestow up to 108 awards each year. Awards are given to mathematics and science (including computer science) teachers from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity schools, or the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands). List of past awardees from Kentucky
The award runs in two cycles with teachers for grades K-6 recognized in even years (e.g., 2022) and teachers for grades 7-12 recognized in odd years (e.g., 2023).
Nominations
Nominate an outstanding secondary teacher, grades 7-12 in mathematics or science (including computer science) in the fall of even-numbered years.
Nominate an outstanding elementary teacher, grades K-6 in mathematics or science (including computer science) in the fall of odd-numbered years.
Nominations are open to public and private school teachers. Nominated teachers must have no less than 5 complete years of full-time teaching experience before the nomination year. The deadline for nominations is April 1st of the following year and applications are due by May 1st. Please do not wait until the last minute to nominate. The process requires planning and reflection. The nomination form should be completed early enough to ensure that the nominated teacher is given enough time to thoroughly prepare an application that reflects exemplary teaching prior to the application deadline.
Visit the PAEMST website for the eligibility and nomination forms.
Recipients of the award receive the following:
A certificate signed by the President of the United States.
A paid trip for two to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities.
A $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.
An opportunity to build lasting partnerships with colleagues across the nation.
This growing network of award-winning teachers serves as a vital resource for improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and keeping America globally competitive.
All applications will be subjected to the following review process:
At the State level, coordinators convene local selection committees, which include prominent mathematicians, scientists, mathematics/science educators, district level personnel, and classroom teachers. These committees select up to five finalists from each discipline (mathematics or science) for recognition at the state level. To ensure consistency across the country, each state selection committee will score the state’s applications using the review criteria and scoring information.
At the national level, NSF convenes a national selection committee composed of prominent mathematicians, scientists, mathematics/science educators, district level personnel, and classroom teachers that reviews the applications of the state finalists and recommends to NSF up to two finalists in mathematics or science from each state or jurisdiction. The Director of NSF then submits the recommendations to the Director of Office of Science and Technology Policy. All finalists will be subject to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FB background check.
Kentucky state coordinators for the PAEMST program are:
Erica Baker, science coordinator
Maggie Doyle, mathematics coordinator
Please email the mathematics team with any questions.