Receiving the Presidential Award in science is an extraordinary honor. This award celebrates the large group that has been a part of my journey: the guidance of several mentors, inspiring passion of my colleagues, enthusiasm of my students, and support of my family. This award reaffirms that the hard work to develop and implement engineering design task challenges continues to inspire and challenge students. I look forward to what the future of science education holds!

Aaron Hamilton Lafayette, IN | K-6, Science, 2018

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

Aaron Hamilton has been an educator for eight years and has spent all of those years at Wyandotte Elementary School in the Tippecanoe School Corporation. He currently teaches all subjects to his fourth-grade class. In search of stronger science and engineering opportunities for students, Aaron attended an annual summer institute with the Science Learning through Engineering Design (SLED) team at Purdue University. As a result of implementing thought-provoking engineering design tasks, student passion for science grew as they used science concepts to create unique prototypes for solving a given problem. Aaron’s love for science goes beyond his classroom. He has presented sessions on both engineering design tasks and how to assess design ideas at several conferences. He has piloted SLED curriculum and collaborated with colleagues to implement design tasks throughout the school corporation in kindergarten through fifth grade. Aaron earned a B.A., with highest distinction, in education from Purdue University. He is certified as a kindergarten through sixth grade classroom and reading teacher.

Know a great teacher like Aaron Hamilton?