28-01-2025
4 Maryland public school teachers receive top award for education in science, math
MARYLAND () — Four Maryland public school teachers have received the nation's highest award for their excellence in STEM education.
On Monday, Jan. 27, the Maryland State Department of Education announced that educators from Howard, Prince George's and Montgomery counties were among the most recent Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) recipients.
The award, established by Congress in 1983, is the highest recognition a kindergarten through 12th-grade science, technology, engineering or mathematics teacher can receive for 'outstanding teaching in the United States.'
As part of the honor, awardees receive a certificate signed by the president, a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend recognition events and professional development opportunities and a $10,000 award from the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Since 1983, the program has recognized over 5,500 teachers, according to the foundation. Up to 110 teachers are selected each year.
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This year, two science and two math teachers were selected from public schools in the state. The honorees include:
Prince George's County Public Schools:
Modupe Olafunmiloye– A Kenmoor Middle School science teacher, has also taught science and special education to students with cognitive disabilities at Buck Lodge Middle School for five years.
Montgomery County Public Schools:
Krishni Patrick– Has taught at Piney Branch Elementary School since 2007. A fifth-grade teacher, she has also taught third-grade and STEM. She began her career as a DC Teaching Fellow at Truesdell Elementary School, Leckie Elementary School and Thomson Elementary School. She then taught at Centreville Layton School in Delaware.
Joan Shane– Currently serves as the Mathematics Content Specialist (CS) at Sligo Middle School, where she has taught mathematics for the past 12 years. Shane spent the previous 11 years teaching fifth grade at Oakland Terrace Elementary School with a focus on mathematics.
Howard County Public Schools:
Kate Sandoval– Currently serves as an elementary mathematics specialist at Bollman Bridge Elementary School, where she previously taught fourth grade. Sandoval has worked in the Howard County Public School System for nine years, teaching at the elementary level.
In addition, two Maryland private school educators were also recognized.
To learn more about the program, click
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