Two Northeast Wisconsin teachers have been named finalists for the prestigious 2024 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction announced that six mathematics and science teachers from the state are finalists for this national award, which is considered the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government for math and science educators.
The finalists include Debra Heitman, a fifth-grade math teacher at Coleman Elementary School in the Coleman School District; Sheila Kohl, a fifth-sixth grade STEM teacher at West De Pere Intermediate School in the School District of West De Pere; Jacquelynn Bazylewicz, a fifth-grade math teacher at Edgewood Elementary in the School District of Greenfield; Melissa Sperle, a fifth-grade math teacher at Winskill Elementary School in the Lancaster Community Schools; Mary Ellen Kanthack, a sixth-grade science teacher at Brookwood Middle School in the Genoa City Joint 2 School District; and Rhonda Veroeven, a sixth-grade science teacher at Glacier Creek Middle School in the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District.
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching have been presented annually since 1983, recognizing K-12 STEM and computer science teachers from around the country. State committees select finalists based on criteria outlined by the national program, and applications from Wisconsin finalists will be evaluated by a committee organized by the National Science Foundation on behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Winners in mathematics and science will receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation, along with professional development opportunities and recognition at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.