New Mexico

Public Education Department

300 Don Gaspar
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501-2786

Dr. Veronica C. García
www.ped.state.nm.us

Secretary of Education

Jennifer Chavez

Public Information Officer

505.476.0393

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: January 18, 2006

New Mexico Teachers Recognized for Outstanding Teaching Innovation

Four Science and Mathematics Teachers from Albuquerque Schools

Selected as 2005 Presidential Award Finalists

Santa Fe — The State of New Mexico’s Public Education Department (PED) is pleased to announce that four science and math teachers from Albuquerque Public Schools were selected as 2005 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Finalists. These awards are the nation’s highest honor for k-12 teaching in these fields. Established by Congress in 1983, and administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation, the Presidential Awards allow for each state to select up to three math and three science teachers as state finalists. From this field of state finalists, a maximum of 108 Presidential Awardees are selected representing the 50 states and four U.S. jurisdictions. Recipients of the 2005 Presidential Awards will be announced during a week of celebration events in March 2006 in Washington, DC. Nationwide, there are 253 state finalists for the Presidential Award this year.

Secretary of Education, Dr. Veronica C. García remarked, “I am extremely proud of our state finalists. In New Mexico, due to the presence of our two national laboratories, Sandia and Los Alamos, we have a strong legacy of leading the way in the fields of math and science. These industries depend on students being adequately prepared for higher education and entry into the workforce. The teachers being recognized as finalists represent the finest examples of mathematics and science teachers and I hope their success will motivate creativity in other teachers throughout the State.”

The following teachers have been named as New Mexico’s state finalists:

• Karla Gade , a Mathematics teacher at Eldorado High School in Albuquerque. When asked about why she became a teacher, Gade said, “I wanted to help students realize that math is a subject that everyone can do. I enjoy teaching math and seeing students realize that they are capable of succeeding in mathematical thinking and problem solving.”

• Kandace Glaser , a Science teacher at Lincoln Middle School in Rio Rancho. When Glaser was told she was a state finalist, she said, “I felt a tremendous sense of pride. This recognition is such a prestigious award—it means representing hundreds of educators who go to work early and leave late so they can address the needs of their diverse student population.”

P. 2 NEW MEXICO MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING TEACHING

• Kathleen Rutter , a Science teacher at Albuquerque High School. Rutter believes that teachers do best when they make their subjects accessible to their students. “I struggled with chemistry myself in school and therefore understand those students who don’t get it immediately. I try to break the intimidating concepts down into understandable pieces.”

• Rhonda Spidell , a Science teacher at Albuquerque Academy. Spidell’s teaching style is key to her success in the classroom. “I think my most effective teaching strategy is to be enthusiastic about what I am teaching and what I am learning.”

As part of the recognition process, Presidential Awardees will take part in a weeklong series of networking and professional development activities in Washington, DC. In addition, each Awardee will also receive $10,000 from the National Science Foundation. For more information about PAEMST, se forms and instructions available at www.paemst.org

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