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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 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teaching. The Awards were established by Congress in 1983. The President may recognize up to 108 exemplary teachers each year.
The award recognizes those teachers have both deep content knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability to motivate and enable students to be successful in those areas. Since the program's inception, more than 5,200 teachers have been recognized for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession.
Apply for PAEMST
Refer to the national PAEMST website for exact competition dates and deadlines.
- 7-12 Grade Teachers - The application process will begin in the fall of 2022.
- K-6 Grade Teachers - The application process will being in the fall of 2023.
Mathematics Past Awardees
| Year | Type | Name | School | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | K-6 | Angela Bonthuis | Gilbert Elementary School | Gilbert |
| 2019 | 7-12 | Sharon Jaeschke | Southeast Valley High School | Gowrie |
| 2018 | K-6 | Deborah Little | Denver Elementary School | Denver |
| 2017 | 7-12 | Maria Granadillo | McKinley Middle School | Cedar Rapids |
| 2016 | K-6 | Zachry Christensen | Perkins Elementary School | Des Moines |
| 2015 | 7-12 | Richard Brooks | Johnston High School | Johnston |
| 2014 | K-6 | Ann Johnson | Sageville Elementary School | Dubuque |
| 2013 | 7-12 | Allysen Lovstuen | Decorah High School | Decorah |
| 2013 | 7-12 | Brian Reece | Central Academy | Des Moines |
| 2012 | K-6 | Josie Burg | Downtown School | Des Moines |
| 2011 | 7-12 | Karla Digmann | George Washington Middle School | Dubuque |
| 2010 | K-6 | Barbara Leise | Downtown School | Des Moines |
| 2009 | 7-12 | Matthew Miller | George Washington High School | Cedar Rapids |
| 2008 | K-6 | Mary Black | Irving Elementary School | Dubuque |
| 2007 | 7-12 | Susan Royer | Kuemper Catholic School System | Carroll |
| 2006 | K-6 | Jennifer Johnson | Jefferson Elementary School | Des Moines |
| 2005 | 7-12 | Linda Seeger | Okoboji High School | Milford |
| 2004 | K-6 | Marcia Carlson | Crestview Elementary School | Clive |
| 2003 | 7-12 | Virginia Swenson | Ames High School | Ames |
| 2002 | 7-12 | Margaret Magner | Independence Middle School | Independence |
| 2002 | K-6 | Christina Nugent | Fulton School | Dubuque |
| 2001 | 7-12 | Angelia Shindelar | Nodaway Valley Middle School | Fontanelle |
| 2001 | K-6 | Denise Carlson | Gilbert Elementary School | Gilbert |
| 2000 | 7-12 | Debra Tvrdik | Fort Dodge Senior High School | Fort Dodge |
| 2000 | K-6 | Annette Louk | Webster City Middle School | Webster City |
| 1999 | 7-12 | Jean Krusi | Ames Middle School | Ames |
| 1999 | K-6 | Diana Schmidt | Edwards Elementary School | Ames |
| 1998 | 7-12 | Mary Dilts | Theodore Roosevelt High School | Des Moines |
| 1998 | K-6 | Pamela Fox | Titan Hill Intermediate School | Council Bluffs |
| 1997 | 7-12 | Joseph Zimmerman | Central Academy | Des Moines |
| 1997 | K-6 | Karen Voss | Merrill Middle School | Des Moines |
| 1996 | 7-12 | Cheryl Ross | Mason City High School | Mason City |
| 1996 | K-6 | Christine Schultz | Abraham Lincoln High School | Council Bluffs |
| 1995 | 7-12 | Michael Link | Central Academy | Des Moines |
| 1995 | K-6 | Jacquelin Smith | Malcolm Price Laboratory School | Cedar Falls |
| 1994 | 7-12 | Bret Hoyer | John F. Kennedy High School | Cedar Rapids |
| 1994 | K-6 | Karen Hoiberg | Abbie Sawyer Elementary School | Ames |
| 1993 | 7-12 | Ronald Fox | Lewis Central High School | Council Bluffs |
| 1993 | K-6 | Mary Elizabeth Jorgensen | Kate Wickham Elementary | Coralville |
| 1992 | 7-12 | Jill Moser | Stilwell Junior High School | West Des Moines |
| 1992 | K-6 | Eleanor Thomas | Northwood Elementary School | Ames |
| 1991 | 7-12 | Curtis Tauke | Monticello Middle/High School | Monticello |
| 1991 | K-6 | Judy Christiansen | West Ridge Elementary School | Harlan |
| 1990 | 7-12 | James Maltas | Malcolm Price Laboratory School | Cedar Falls |
| 1990 | K-6 | Shelva Boyd | Gertrude Fellows Elementary School | Ames |
| 1989 | 7-12 | Earl Ockenga | Malcolm Price Laboratory School | Cedar Falls |
| 1988 | 7-12 | Pauline Antons | Midland Community | Wyoming |
| 1987 | 7-12 | David Griffin | Bettendorf Middle School | Bettendorf |
| 1986 | 7-12 | Christopher Olsen | George Washington Senior High School | Cedar Rapids |
| 1985 | 7-12 | Tom Meskel | Mason City High School | Mason City |
| 1984 | 7-12 | Karen Dotseth | Cedar Falls High School | Cedar Falls |
| 1983 | 7-12 | Roger Fuerstenberg | Sudlow Junior High School | Davenport |
Science Past Awardees
| Year | Type | Name | School | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | K-6 | Sara Borzo | South Middle School | Waukee |
| 2019 | 7-12 | Bradley Jacobson | Central Academy | Des Moines |
| 2018 | K-6 | Katherine McGrane | Margaretta Carey Elementary School | Waverly |
| 2017 | 7-12 | Michael Todd | Ames High School | Ames |
| 2016 | K-6 | Ashley Flatebo | Lincoln Intermediate | Mason City |
| 2015 | 7-12 | Lynnetta Bleeker | Parkview Middle School | Ankeny |
| 2014 | K-6 | Joshua Steenhoek | Jefferson Intermediate School | Pella |
| 2013 | 7-12 | No award given in this area. | ||
| 2012 | K-6 | Mason Kuhn | Shell Rock Elementary | Shell Rock |
| 2011 | 7-12 | Jody Stone | Northern University High School | Cedar Falls |
| 2010 | K-6 | Brandon Schrauth | Beaver Creek Elementary | Johnston |
| 2009 | 7-12 | Jessica Gogerty | North High School | Des Moines |
| 2008 | K-6 | Michelle Harris | Anita Elementary School | Anita |
| 2007 | 7-12 | Justine Heckman | Abraham Lincoln High School | Council Bluffs |
| 2005 | 7-12 | Danielle Spaete | Pleasant Valley High School | Pleasant Valley |
| 2004 | K-6 | Kari Ringgenberg-Pingel | Jefferson Elementary School | Pella |
| 2003 | 7-12 | Kevin Brasser | South O'Brien School | Paullina |
| 2002 | 7-12 | Susan Vogel | Thomas Jefferson High School | Cedar Rapids |
| 2001 | 7-12 | Julie Townsend | Parkview Middle School | Ankeny |
| 2000 | 7-12 | Yvette McCulley | Kirn Jr. High School | Council Bluffs |
| 2000 | K-6 | Susan Haugen | Kennedy Elementary School | Dubuque |
| 1999 | 7-12 | Lyn Countryman | Malcolm Price Laboratory School | Cedar Falls |
| 1999 | K-6 | Karla Snodgrass | Western Hills Elementary School | West Des Moines |
| 1998 | 7-12 | James Hurley | Waverly-Shell Rock High School | Waverly |
| 1998 | K-6 | Jeanne Burns | Gunn Elementary School | Council Bluffs |
| 1997 | 7-12 | Curtis Froyen | Knoxville High School | Knoxville |
| 1997 | K-6 | Shelba Oberto | Colfax-Mingo Elementary School | Des Moines |
| 1996 | 7-12 | John Kounas | Westwood High School | Sloan |
| 1996 | K-6 | Elizabeth Laughlin | North Hill Elementary School | Burlington |
| 1995 | 7-12 | Karen Sievers | Callanan Middle School | Des Moines |
| 1995 | K-6 | Margaret Ann Sadeghpour-Kramer | North Cedar Middle School | Clarence |
| 1994 | 7-12 | Ernest Schiller | Central Lee High School | Donnellson |
| 1994 | K-6 | James Christensen | Galva-Holstein Middle School | Galva |
| 1993 | 7-12 | Hector Ibarra | West Branch Middle School | West Branch |
| 1993 | K-6 | Cindy Roberts | Wall Lake-View Auburn Schools | Wall Lake |
| 1992 | 7-12 | Daniel McGrail | Carlisle High School | Carlisle |
| 1992 | K-6 | C. Christensen | Malcolm Price Laboratory Schooll | Cedar Falls |
| 1991 | 7-12 | Theresa Knapp Holtzclaw | Valley High School | West Des Moines |
| 1991 | K-6 | Joan Braunagel McShane | Jefferson Elementary School | Davenport |
| 1990 | 7-12 | Jan Wielert | Iowa City West High School | Iowa City |
| 1990 | K-6 | Suzanne Kelly | Warren H. Meeker Elementary School | Ames |
| 1989 | 7-12 | Floyd Sturtevant | Ames High School | Ames |
| 1988 | 7-12 | Morgan Masters | Chariton Community Schools | Chariton |
| 1987 | 7-12 | Sandra Walton | Dubuque Senior High School | Dubuque |
| 1986 | 7-12 | Ross Iverson | Miller Junior High School | Marshalltown |
| 1985 | 7-12 | Donald Schaefer | Bettendorf High School | Bettendorf |
| 1984 | 7-12 | Kenneth Hartman | Ames Junior High School | Ames |
| 1983 | 7-12 | Karen Stiles | Nathan Week Transitional | Des Moines |