We live in a time in our nation's history when scientific understanding and reasoning are more important than ever before. The future of our planet and the world’s economy all necessitate scientific literacy as a key component of 21st-century citizenship. The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is an important way to value science education as a nation. This award represents a commitment to prepare our children for the future that they will inherit.

Gregory Benedis-Grab New York, NY | K-6, Science, 2010

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

Greg Benedis-Grab has been teaching science for more than 14 years. He has worked at The School at Columbia University for the past 6 years, and he currently teaches second and fifth grade science. He has also worked at the East Harlem School in New York and has taught in Tanzania. Greg is a dynamic and expert teacher who emphasizes inquiry in his classroom. He encourages student-designed experiments, fosters deep conceptual understanding, and promotes the use of technology. He codesigned the kindergarten through eighth grade science curriculum for his school. Greg has presented at national conferences and leads workshops for teachers in the New York City area. He has published articles in the science education journals Science and Children and Science Scope. Greg also blogs on education for the New York Academy of Sciences. He is an adjunct faculty member at Bank Street College Graduate School of Education, where he teaches a science methods class. Greg has a B.A., magna cum laude, in physics and sociology from Haverford College and an M.S. from Bank Street College Graduate School of Education. He is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Teacher’s College Columbia University. He is State certified in prekindergarten through sixth grade elementary education.

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