On July 31st, 30 100Kin10 partners were invited to The White House to participate in the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST) 2015 gathering. The PAEMST awards are the nation’s highest honors for teachers who are leading improvement of mathematics and science education.
Throughout the day’s programming, 100Kin10 partners sat down with leadership from the Office of Science and Technology Policy and, the Department of Education, and the National Science Foundation (including Tom Khalil, Deputy Director for Technology and Innovation at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy), to discuss the current STEM education landscape and key administration priorities. Participating partners had the opportunity to share accomplishments about their programs and the innovative and effective ways they are impacting STEM teachers, showcasing the gains made by and expertise of 100Kin10 partners. PAEMST winners, 100Kin10 partners, and administration officials, including Thomas Khalil, Special Assistant to the Chancellor for Science and Technology and Chair of the Clinton Global Initiative’s Global Health Working Group, engaged in an interactive workshop (organized and facilitated by 100Kin10) to brainstorm solutions to the challenges impeding the progress toward reaching 100,000 excellent STEM teachers. IISME and National Math and Science Initiative were given the opportunity to share their models for STEM partnerships between K-12 schools and industry, showcasing the gains made by and expertise of 100Kin10 partners.
Four 100Kin10 partners and funders – Edith Gummer of Kauffman Foundation, Kimberly Hughes of the UTeach Institute, Boyana Konforti of The Simons Foundation, and LaVerne Srinivasan of Carnegie Corporation of New York – and 100Kin10 Executive Director and Co-founder Talia Milgrom-Elcott were invited to shake hands with President Obama.
“These teachers are shaping America’s success through their passion for math and science,"President Obama said of PAEMST honorees. "Their leadership and commitment empower our children to think critically and creatively about science, technology, engineering, and math. The work these teachers are doing in our classrooms today will help ensure that America stays on the cutting edge tomorrow.”
