Bowling Green teacher among finalists for national education award

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – A Bowling Green math teacher is among four teachers selected as state finalists vying for a top national education award.

Among the four teachers, W.R. McNeill Elementary teacher Emily Lehman is a finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the nation’s highest honor for K–12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science teachers.

Each year, a national committee of prominent mathematicians, scientists, mathematics and science education researchers, district level personnel and classroom teachers recommends up to 108 teachers to receive PAEMST awards, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

The award is given to up to two teachers in mathematics and/or science from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories, along with schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity in the United States and overseas.

Teachers who are selected as PAEMST awardees receive a trip to Washington, D.C., where they attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities. They also receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation, a presidential certificate, and join an elite cohort of award-winning teachers who can influence state/jurisdiction and national STEM teaching.

State selection committees consisting of prominent advisers in mathematics or science education, district-level personnel and/or classroom teachers reviewed Kentucky applications. These applications were evaluated using the review criteria and scoring information provided by the National Science Foundation.

Lehman was also recognized recently with the Robinson Award for Diversity and Equity in Public Education.

The other finalists from Kentucky include Rhoda Whitaker, a teacher at North Washington Elementary School in Washington County; Jennifer McCafferty, a teacher at North Calloway Elementary School in Calloway County; and Christina Morris, an educator at Crofton Elementary School in Christian County.

The PAEMST awards program is administered by the National Science Foundation on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

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