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The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Program was established in 1983 by The White House and is sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The program identifies outstanding mathematics and science teachers, kindergarten through 12th grade, in each state and the four U.S. jurisdictions. These teachers will serve as models for their colleagues and will be leaders in the improvement of science and mathematics education.
In 2003 the competition began to alternate each year between teachers of grades 7-12 and teachers of grades K-6. In 2008, teachers of grades K-6 mathematics and science in each state and the four U.S. jurisdictions are eligible to apply. Teachers of grades 7-12 will be eligible for the President Awards in 2009. The application for 2008 is available to download from the website below.
The 2007 PAEMST Awardees will be announced in the Spring of 2008. Each Presidential Awardee will receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. Each Awardee will also be invited to attend, along with a guest, recognition events in Washington, D.C. in the Spring of 2008. These events will include an award ceremony, a Presidential Citation, meetings with leaders in government and education, sessions to share ideas and teaching experiences, and receptions and banquets to honor recipients.
Teachers applying for the 2008 PAEMST must be nominated. Anyone (e.g. principals, teachers, students, and other members of the general public) may nominate a teacher, including the teacher themselves.
Forms for the 2008 PAEMST cycle are available at
the Presidential Awards website
Application and Selection Process
The application and further information about nominations for 2008 will be posted soon.
Nomination Form
Application Packet - PDF
Q. What are the PAEMST selection criteria?
A. The program is open to practicing public-, private- and parochial-school teachers with a minimum of five years of experience. Candidates are then chosen on the basis of their teaching performance, their background and their experience. This includes an evaluation of their formal education and continuing educational experience as well as professional and other activities related to their teaching. Applicants are asked to demonstrate how their teaching enables students to learn important math and science processes and concepts. They must also provide letters of support for their application from colleagues; current or former students; parents of current or former students; or their supervisors.
Q. How are recipients selected?
A. Awardees are selected from those eligible teachers who have completed an application, obtained from NSF or from the science or math coordinator at their state education department. Applicants provide documentation of their background and evidence of professional success to state selection committees of their peers. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) oversees state selection procedures in math, the Council of State Science Supervisors (CSSS) those in science.
The committees choose three finalists at each level. These 3 state-level finalists are recognized by the national program and in their individual states or political jurisdictions. All 3 of these teachers are candidates for the presidential award. One math teacher at each level are recommended as presidential awardees by national selection committees of distinguished scientists, mathematicians and educators. The White House chooses the presidential awardees and makes the official announcement of the winners.
Q. What are the citizenship requirements for nominees?
A. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who teach in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Dependent Schools, or the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas or the Virgin Islands.
Q. When was PAEMST established?
A. Former President Ronald Reagan signed into law a measure establishing the program in 1983 (P.L. 98-377). The law was amended in 1988 to include elementary teachers (P.L. 100-570). The teacher enhancement program of NSF's division of elementary, secondary, and informal education administers the program for the White House.
For more information
contact: Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, Directorate for Education and Human Resources, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. 22230, (703) 306-0422.