The Award Process: Overview

Nomination

Anyone—principals, teachers, parents, students, or members of the general public—are invited to nominate exceptional Math or Science teachers teaching in grades K-6 for the 2010 Award Year. Self-nominations are encouraged. Nominations for teachers teaching in grades 7-12 will be accepted next year.

» View eligibility criteria and nominate a teacher.

Application

Once nominated, teachers will receive an invitation to begin the application process. The invitation will include a user name and password for accessing the online application system.

The application consists of three components: Administrative, Narrative, and Video. The components allow the applicant to provide evidence of deep content knowledge and exemplary pedagogical skills that result in improved student learning. Each application will be evaluated using the following five Dimensions of Outstanding Teaching:

• Mastery of mathematics or science content knowledge appropriate for the grade level taught.
• Use of instructional methods and strategies that are appropriate for the students in the classroom and that support student learning.
• Effective use of assessment strategies to evaluate, monitor, and improve student learning.
• Reflective practice and life-long learning to improve teaching and student learning.
• Leadership in education outside the classroom.

For complete details, please review the 2010 Application Packet (Adobe PDF). If needed, download a free copy of Acrobat Reader for PDF files.

» Login to the application system.

Selection

All applications will be subjected to the following review process:

• At the State level, coordinators convene local selection committees, which include prominent mathematicians, scientists, mathematics/science educators, and past awardees. These committees select up to three finalists from each category (mathematics or science) for recognition at the State level. To ensure consistency across the country, all State selection committees will score their applications using the review criteria and scoring information presented in the 2010 Application Packet.
• At the national level, NSF convenes a national selection committee composed of prominent mathematicians, scientists, mathematics/science educators, and past awardees that reviews the applications of the state finalists and recommends to NSF up to one finalist in mathematics and up to one finalist in science from each state or jurisdiction. The Director of NSF then submits the recommendations to the President of the United States. All finalists will be subjected to an FBI background check.

Recognition

PAEMST winners are honored the year following the receipt of the application.

Each awardee receives a citation signed by the President of the United States, a $10,000 award from NSF, and gifts from a broad range of donors. Awardees and their guests are honored during events that take place in Washington, DC. These events include an award ceremony, celebratory receptions, professional development programs, and discussions with policy-makers on how to improve mathematics and science education.

» Learn more about the event, and current awardees, on the Recognition Program Web site.