There’s a critical need in the U.S. to make sure that public schools are churning out kids who are strong in math and science. In order to celebrate some of the best K-12 teachers across the country in the field, President Barack Obama today named 97 teachers as recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Winners of the honor receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation and are invited to participate in a ceremony in Washington D.C.
“America’s success in the 21st century depends on our ability to educate our children, give our workers the skills they need, and embrace technological change,” said President Obama in a statement. “That starts with the men and women in front of our classrooms. These teachers are the best of the best, and they stand as excellent examples of the kind of leadership we need in order to train the next generation of innovators and help this country get ahead.”
Winners from the Pacific Northwest include: Science teacher Mary Koike of Newport, Oregon; Math teacher Nathan Shields of Vancouver, Washington; and Science teacher Robert Ettinger of Seattle.
Full list here.
