Jefferson Teacher Named State Science Finalist for Presidential Award

Norwalk Public Schools wishes to congratulate Diana Walker, a STEAM teacher at Jefferson Marine Science Elementary School, for being selected as a state science finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teaching. The Awards were established by Congress in 1983. The President may recognize a total of 110 exemplary teachers each year.

The award winners will be announced later this spring.

Walker has been teaching for 18 years, 5 of those years at Jefferson. She finds STEAM education very important because it ignites curiosity in students and empowers them to be innovators and problem solvers.

"In STEAM class, students learn at a young age that it is okay to fail because it’s what you do after you fail that counts! Students feel safe to take risks, build confidence, and think critically while they tackle our world's biggest problems,” Walker said.

Awards are given to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers from each of the 50 states, the Department of Defense Education Activity schools, and the U.S. Jurisdictions of the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The award recognizes those teachers that 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.

Awardees reflect the expertise and dedication of the Nation's teaching corps, and they demonstrate the positive impact of excellent teachers on student achievement. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Each Presidential Awardee receives a certificate signed by the President of the United States, a $10,000 award from NSF, and an all-expenses paid trip for an award ceremony.

In addition, awardees join a national cohort of award-winning teachers, providing opportunities to impact teaching on a state and national scale. The recognition events may include professional development opportunities and discussions with policy makers on how to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.