Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett presented the 2009 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) to five Hoosier instructors  at the Children’s Museum on Nov. 9. The five recipients included CHS math teacher Janice Mitchener.

Mitchener received news of her award in July. She said, “I really didn’t think about what (the letter from the Indiana Department of Education) was for until I read the entire letter. My first reaction was, ‘Oh my goodness. All that time paid off.’  It was almost a relief. I could not even start to count the number of hours I spent on the application. I was very honored and excited.”

Created in 1983 by Congress, the PAEMST awards are considered the highest honor for mathematics and science teachers and recognize excellence in instruction across the United States.

Applicants submitted two 30-minute videos along with a written analysis. An independent panel of education experts reviewed the applications.

“The application process for the Presidential Award was extremely time consuming,” Mitchener said. “Starting in January, I started videotaping my classes on a daily basis. And I had to write a 20 to 25-page analysis to go with it. This was probably the most intensive application I’ve had to do so far.”

The National Science Foundation will select a winner from the five finalists to receive a $10,000 award and a trip to Washington D.C.

Mitchener said, “Being a finalist is a reward in itself. I am excited to have gotten this far.” By Laura Peng <[email protected]>