This is what I found in my inbox.
Holy cow! It was as if I was dreaming. I screamed for my husband -- telling him to hurry and come! I didn't know what else to do. I couldn't move. I couldn't get up and go tell him. My eyes were glued to the computer screen. Maybe if I took my eyes off of the email, it would disappear. It would be a dream.
After the three hour workshop, I absent-mindedly checked my phone. I do this throughout the day. Not looking for or expecting anything. The morning excitement had worked its way through my system by noon. There in my inbox was the press release from The White House.
@whitehouseostp
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2015
President Obama Honors Outstanding Mathematics and Science Teachers
WASHINGTON, DC -- President Obama today named 108 mathematics and science teachers as recipients of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. This year’s awardees represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity schools. The educators will receive their awards at a Washington, DC, event later this summer.
The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is awarded annually to outstanding K-12 science and mathematics teachers from across the country. The winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators following an initial selection process done at the state level. Each year the award alternates between teachers teaching kindergarten through 6th grade and those teaching 7th through 12th grades. The awardees named today teach 7th through 12th grade.
Winners of this Presidential honor receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion. They also are invited to Washington, DC, for an awards ceremony, as well educational and celebratory events, and visits with members of the Administration.
"These teachers are shaping America’s success through their passion for math and science,” President Obama said. “Their leadership and commitment empower our children to think critically and creatively about science, technology, engineering, and math. The work these teachers are doing in our classrooms today will help ensure that America stays on the cutting edgetomorrow.”
President Obama is strengthening education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields in order to fully harness the promise our Nation’s students. Investing in exemplary teachers like these awardees is vital to inspiring the next generation of explorers and innovators. That’s why President Obama launched the “Educate to Innovate” campaign, which has garnered more than $1 billion in financial and in-kind support for STEM programs. It is also why the President has called for preparing 100,000 excellent science and mathematics teachers over the next decade, leading to the creation of “100kin10,” a coalition of leading corporations, philanthropies, universities, service organizations, and others working to train and retain STEM teachers across the Nation. In addition, the President’s proposed STEM Master Teacher Corps aims to leverage the expertise of some of our nation’s best and brightest teachers in science and mathematics to elevate the teaching of these subjects nationwide.
The recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are listed below, by state.
To learn more about these extraordinary teachers, please visit: >https://recognition.paemst.
Alabama
Marla Hines, Vestavia Hills High School
Sarah Lowman, Tanner High School
Alaska
Tasha Barnes, Wendler Middle School
Russell Walker, Romig Middle School
Arizona
Shannon Mann, Osborn Middle School
Marni Landry, Paradise Valley High School
Arkansas
Brian Leonard, Lake Hamilton High School
Amanda Jones, Poyen High School
California
Marianne Chowning-Dray, Eastside College Preparatory School
Scott Holloway, Westlake High School
Colorado
Kirstin Oseth, Cheyenne Mountain Junior High School
Mark Paricio, Smoky Hill High School
Connecticut
Jacqueline Corricelli, Conard High School
Joshua Steffenson, Glastonbury High School
Delaware
Kristin Carmen, Sussex Technical High School
Christopher Havrilla, Woodbridge High School
District of Columbia
Aris Pangilinan, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School
Florentia Spires, The Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science
Department of Defense Education Activity
Ryan Goodfellow, Vilseck American High School
Jennifer Wilson, Andersen Middle School
Florida
Robin O'Brien, Seminole Ridge Community High School
Carlos Montero, Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School
Georgia
Valerie Jones, Ron Clark Academy
Pauline Henry, Luke Garrett Middle School
Hawaii
Amy Yonashiro, ‘Iolani School
Erin Flynn, Sacred Hearts Academy
Idaho
Ramey Uriarte, Heritage Middle School
Melyssa Ferro, Syringa Middle School
Illinois
Darshan Jain, Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Rebecca Vieyra, Cary-Grove High School
Indiana
Melissa Colonis, Lafayette Tecumseh Junior High School
Liviu Haiducu, Avon Advanced Learning Center
Iowa
Allysen Lovstuen, Decorah High School
Brian Reece, Central Academy
Kansas
Patrick Flynn, Olathe East High School
Jeremi Wonch, Indian Trail Middle School
Kentucky
Robyn Morris, East Oldham Middle School
Andrew Kemp, Louisville Male High School
Louisiana
Lerri Cockrell, David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy
Michael Simoneaux, Dutchtown High School
Maine
William O'Brien, Camden Hills Regional High School
Lisa McLellan, Windham High School
Maryland
Julie Harp, Easton High School
James Schafer, Montgomery Blair High School
Massachusetts
Suzanne Kubik, Middleboro High School
Susannah Cowden, Roxbury Preparatory Charter School
Michigan
Luke Wilcox, East Kentwood High School
Walter Erhardt, Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center
Minnesota
Leif Carlson, Jefferson Community School
Peter Bohacek, Henry Sibley High School
Mississippi
Jenny Simmons, Saltillo High School
Betsy Sullivan, Madison Central High School
Missouri
Ruth Knop, Parkway West Senior High School
Kathleen Dwyer, Maplewood Richmond Heights High School
Montana
Daniel Bartsch, Billings Senior High School
David McDonald, Sidney High School
Nebraska
Shelby Aaberg, Scottsbluff High School
Angela Bergman, Westside High School
Nevada
Carrie Hair, Darrell C. Swope Middle School - Gifted and Talented Magnet
Jan Hrindo, Incline Middle School
New Hampshire
Stephanie Burke, West Running Brook Middle School
Jennifer Deenik, Souhegan High School
New Jersey
Kathleen Carter, North Hunterdon High School
Michael Lawrence, West Orange High School
New Mexico
Marco Martínez-Leandro, Highland High School
Karen Temple-Beamish, Albuquerque Academy
New York
Patrick Honner, Brooklyn Technical High School
Chance Nalley, Horace Mann School
North Carolina
Julie Riggins, East Forsyth High School
Jeffrey Milbourne, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
North Dakota
Cynthia Nelson, Grand Forks Central High School
Scott Johnson, Century High School
Ohio
Karma Vince, McCord Junior High School
Christopher Monsour, Columbian High School
Oklahoma
Mark Thomas, Stillwater High School
Sarah Vann, Owasso Eighth Grade Center
Oregon
Mona Schraer, Grant High School
Bradford Hill, Southridge High School
Pennsylvania
Susan Higley, Hughesville Junior/Senior High School
Derrick Wood, Conestoga High School
Puerto Rico
Eric Figueroa, University Gardens High School
Maria Vicenty, Central High School of Visual Arts
Rhode Island
Michelle Way DaSilva, Kickemuit Middle School
Erin Escher, Portsmouth Middle School
South Carolina
Brooke Lance, Lakeside Middle School
Joseph Parker, McCants Middle School
South Dakota
Lindsey Brewer, Huron High School
Janet Wagner, Bon Homme School
Tennessee
Micahel Brown, Montgomery Central High School
Pierre Jackson, Middle College High School
Texas
Jessica Caviness, Coppell High School
Michalle McCallister, Robert G. Cole Middle and High school
U.S. Territories
Nneka Howard-Sibilly, Charlotte Amalie High School
Shamika Williams-Henley, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School
Utah
Nathan Auck, Horizonte Instruction and Training Center
Andrew Neilson, Logan High School
Vermont
Susan Abrams, Montpelier High School
Stewart Williamson, Peoples Academy High School
Virginia
Melanie Pruett, Bailey Bridge Middle School
Anne Moore, Robious Middle School
Washington
Michael Conklin, University High School
Gretel von Bargen, Skyline High School
West Virginia
Pete Karpyk, Weir High School
Eric Kincaid, Morgantown High School
Wisconsin
Corey Andreasen, North High School
Scott Hertting, Neenah High School
Wyoming
Kim Parfitt, Cheyenne Central High School
Thomas Smith, Dean Morgan Junior High School
First on my to-do list: let my family know. I sent them a copy of the press release then texted a quick note. Soon I was getting texts, emails, Facebook tags/posts to my timeline/messages and whatever else happens in FB, my Twitter notifications were arriving on my phone. I quickly realized the power of social media. It was unbelievable how friends, family, colleagues, students and former students were finding out. This is 2015. The evening news is old news by 6 pm. They were hearing from the Star Advertiser Breaking News. No sooner had the press release been sent and Hawaii News Now was calling the school. They wanted a phone interview. They needed a picture. Just as quickly as the word got out, the picture was taken. I wasn't dressed for the occasion but no one seemed to notice. As soon as they got the picture and a few words, the calm began to return to my life.
In the meantime, social media was still doing what it does best - spreading the news. My FB account was working overtime. I got friend requests from students I taught 15 years ago. They saw posts by mutual friends, sent a friend request and with a click of a button we were catching up. Some were parents now and hoped I would teach their children some day. One girl reminisced about the time she hid under my desk and jumped out and scared me. Some wanted to meet for lunch when they got home at Christmas - "I pinky promised."
A few years ago I was so anti-FB. I still am selective about what I share and post as I think everyone is. I love the (re)connections I have made. My world feels bigger. I am grateful for the people I am in touch with near and far. I used to have pen pals as a child. I would put a letter in the mailbox and wait for a reply in a week or two. Now I read a post and respond instantly acknowledging an accomplishment (thank you, everyone! This has been an amazing experience in itself.), praying for a bereaved friend, cheering on a milestone, responding to questions to see which Disney couple my husband and I are most like, resharing an inspiring message, posting a fun video (how to make stress balls with balloons and flour - a must-see!), or just laughing outloud to myself.
The other day I googled Instagram. Wanted to know what the big deal was. A few hours later I had a better understanding, in fact, I loved the simplicity of the app. I have an Instagram account now which makes sense because I am a crazy picture taker. I love to take pictures - lots of pictures, of anything and everything.
Twitter started tweeting, retweeting, favorite-ing . . .
Social media . . . I get it now. Powerful. Relationship-building. Connecting. Engaging. Global. Teaches. Educates.
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