The Presidential Award is the highest honor for a science teacher to be recognized for their outstanding teaching, guidance in the classroom, contributions to their profession, and impact on their students’ achievement. Teaching allows you to give others experiences that have the potential to shape their lives. They, in turn, contribute to society – it’s a ripple or a domino effect.

Lorraine Plageman Jupiter, FL | 7-12, Science, 2017

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Lorraine Plageman has been teaching for 30 years, spending her entire career at Jupiter Community High School. She currently teaches Advanced Placement Physics C Mechanics and Honors Physics to students in grades 10-12. Lorraine takes every opportunity to bring the outside world into her classroom. She invites professionals from the community to visit her class and discuss subject matter. In addition, the students in Lorraine’s classes are encouraged to participate in a variety of competitions at the local, state, and national levels. Lorraine initiated and administers a teacher assistance program at her school where she provides ongoing assistance and mentoring to new and experienced teachers on relevant topics to strengthen and improve their teaching. Lorraine believes that a commitment to teaching requires a corresponding commitment to lifelong professional learning. In recent years she has taken part in summer programs for teachers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Lockheed Martin. Lorraine earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Florida International University. She was in the inaugural class of teachers coming from industry to participate in the alternate certification program at Florida Atlantic University. She is certified in physics and is an Educational Media Specialist.

Know a great teacher like Lorraine Plageman?