Elementary school teacher Susan Koch of Vermont has earned a prestigious 2022 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Photo Credit: Susan Koch
It is always a pleasure to recognize exemplary teachers who have earned accolades for their work in the profession. Today we celebrate elementary school teacher Susan Koch of Vermont. She has earned a prestigious 2022 PAEMST (Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching).
Susan teaches first grade and kindergarten at Union Elementary School in Montpelier, Vermont. Her tenure there spans 13 years. Prior to her stint there, she taught at both Barre Town Middle and Elementary School. She also taught at Ferrisburgh Central School for one year, and at Bren Mar Park Elementary School during her first year of teaching.
To expand her professional repertoire, Susan attended NASA’s International Space Camp. She has also traveled to Arctic Svalbard as a Grosvenor Teaching Fellow with National Geographic/Lindblad Expeditions. Furthermore, she has partnered with the North Branch Nature Center to develop and adapt the Educating Children Outdoors (ECO) program. By incorporating nature as a teaching partner, Susan says, she offers learners an engaging, outdoor learning experience with an inquiry focus and a standards-based foundation.
“We are no longer lecturing students as they sit in a one-size-fits-all classroom,” declares Susan. “Educators are providing unique learning opportunities for students that often include forest lessons, community visits, virtual field trips, and collaborative teaching” she continues. “Students are creating their own knowledge, learning actively, setting goals, and reflecting upon their learning,” she concludes.
The PAEMST recognizes the dedication, hard work, and importance that America’s teachers play in supporting learners who will become future STEM professionals, including computer technologists, climate scientists, mathematicians, innovators, space explorers, and engineers. The PAEMST program, founded in 1983, is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The honor comes with a visit to the White House and a $10,000 cash prize.
In addition to her PAEMST, Susan was named the Vermont State Teacher of the Year in 2016. She is also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG), a prestigious international professional organization that promotes the advancement of women educators.
Susan earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from George Washington University and her master’s degree in Education from Southern New Hampshire University.
