I am so proud of the tremendous honor bestowed upon these four deserving South Carolina educators, said State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman.

This award shows that they are providing their students with the highest quality instruction that will ultimately prepare students for success after graduation. I commend their accomplishments and look forward to their leadership and insight being shared across our state,” concluded Spearman.

The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is awarded to outstanding K-12 science and mathematics teachers from across the country. The winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators following an initial selection process at the state level. Each nomination year of the award alternates between teachers in the kindergarten through 6^th grade level, and those teaching 7^th through 12^th grades. The cohort of awardees named today represent two nomination years, one of teachers in kindergarten through 6^th grade classrooms and the other in 7^th through 12^th grade classrooms.

The South Carolina Department of Education is proud to recognize the 2014 and 2015 South Carolina awardees- indicated below including their schools and districts:

2014 Awardees

Renee Joiner

Little Mountain Elementary School

School District of Newberry County

 

Rebecca Strong

Thomas C. Cario Middle School

Charleston County School District

2015 Awardees
Gail Vawter

Springfield Middle School

Fort Mill School District (York 4)

Jennifer Wise

Hand Middle School

Richland County School District One

South Carolina’s winners will join other awardees in Washington, D.C. for a series of events in their honor, including professional development opportunities, discussions with policy-makers on how to improve mathematics and science education, and an awards ceremony.  In addition, awardees will receive a certificate signed by the President of the United States and a $10,000 award to be used at their discretion from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Please take the time to learn more about South Carolina’s awardees and their commendable work by reviewing their bios here. The South Carolina Department of Education is proud of the impact these teachers are making for both our students and the future of science and mathematics education nationwide. For more information about these awards, please click here.