Presidential Award for Excellence in mathematics and Science
“MY PASSION IS MATH and it is my desire
to instill in my students the importance and
relevance of math in their everyday lives. MATH is
EVERYWHERE and it MATTERS!” …Tonya Kepley
Enochville Elementary School teacher Tonya
Kepley is a recipient of the 2012 Presidential Award
for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
(PAEMST). Tonya was named a finalist for this
award in September of 2012.
President Obama named 102 mathematics
and science teachers as the recipients of this
prestigious award from across the country
representative of 50 states, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Department of
Defense Education Activity. PAEMST is awarded
annually to outstanding K-12 mathematics and
science teachers from across the country by a
panel of distinguished mathematicians, scientists,
and educators following an initial selection process
at the state level.
As a winner of this honor, Tonya will receive
a $10,000 award from the National Science
Foundation to be used at her discretion. In
addition, she is invited to Washington, DC for the
awards ceremony and several days of educational
and celebratory events, including visits with
members of Congress and the Administration.
Tonya credits many dedicated and
compassionate teachers in the Rowan-Salisbury
School System for her success as a teacher. “They
inspired me to excel and to be the best that I could
be,” says Tonya. “As an elementary student, I was
identified as having a learning disability in reading,
however that never stopped me from seeking a
challenge! Through dedication and time devoted
by my teachers and hard work on my part at
times, I did achieve my goals and even excelled many times.”
Tonya believes in creating an engaging and challenging
classroom environment for her students, “My responsibility is to
ensure that all of my student are actively engaged in their learning
to ensure a deeper understanding of the content while providing a
nurturing environment that encourages risk taking,” states Tonya.
“PERSEVERANCE is the “P” word that we discuss daily in my class
because without it we will often abandon tasks that we fear or that
are difficult and we will never achieve the greatest that we were set
out to be in this life! It is my commitment to education to strive to
be the teacher that my students remember for pushing them to be
THEIR BEST!”
PAEMST is part of President Obama’s initiative to increase the
importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)
education. Excellent teachers in the field of mathematics and science
are critical to increasing the number of students engaged in STEM.
President Obama is committed to strengthen STEM. education by
focusing on preparing 100,000 excellent mathematic and science
teachers over the next decade.
This comment from Tonya sums it all up, “My students are
the TRUE WINNERS of this prestigious award! Their math talk,
interactions, performance, and achievements are to be applauded!
I was simply the facilitator scaffolding them to their mathematical
successes! I learn from them EVERYDAY!”
“Make Your Case for Quality
Physical Fitness”
Three Rowan-Salisbury elementary school teachers received
grants for “Make Your Case for Quality Physical Education.” These
grants are made possible through the partnership with the NFL
Fuel Up To Play 60 and the Presidential Youth Fitness Program.
With over a $2,500 value each, the grants provide for the
following:
A 3-year site license to the FITNESSGRAM assessment
Associated professional development
Student recognition emblems and certificates
In addition, one elementary teacher and the RSS Child
Nutrition Department received a $4,000 grant through the NFL
Fuel Up To Play 60 that includes a fitness and healthy eating
component.
The teachers are as follows:
Trina Chester - Hurley Elementary
Sandra Mitchem - Landis Elementary
Robert Marchinko - Bostian and Enochville Elementary Schools
Thanks for all you do for our students!
Parent Teacher Magazine • March/April 2014 •