The Presidential Award is a special honor because it recognizes teachers for their efforts in a profound way that demonstrates respect for the profession. It is unfortunate that many excellent teachers will never receive this recognition. However, their students recognize them on a daily basis for their passion as educators. My hope is that excellent teachers find the time and means to share their talent, resources, and methods with others.

michael tamblyn Whitewater, WI | 7-12, Mathematics, 2011

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

Mike Tamblyn has taught mathematics for 21 years, for the past 12 years at Whitewater High School. Mike started Whitewater High's Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus course (a course he initiated at the school where he previously taught). He has taught this course for a total of 16 years, and 84 percent of his students have passed the AP exam. At Whitewater High School, Mike also teaches Geometry and Precalculus, and he coaches the school's Math Team, which has won first place in its conference for the last 3 years. Mike feels passionate about the uses of technology in learning. He has provided training and instruction to teachers on infusing technology into their classrooms—giving presentations to teachers at workshops at the state and regional levels, leading in-service trainings at districts around the State, and teaching graduate courses. He has published articles in the Wisconsin Mathematics Council's (WMC) journal and in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' Mathematics Teacher. Mike works hard to promote mathematics education in Wisconsin, and he has served for 10 years on WMC's board of directors and on the Annual Conference Committee. Mike has a B.S. in secondary mathematics education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an M.S. for teachers of mathematics from the University of New Hampshire. He is a certified secondary mathematics teacher.

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