Elementary school mathematics teacher Stephanie Gullage garnered a prestigious PAEMST in 2020. Photo credit: 4WWLTV

Many exceptional educators have earned recognition for their work. One of these is Stephanie Gullage, an elementary school teacher from Luling, Louisiana, who has garnered a prestigious 2020 PAEMST award.

The PAEMST, Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, recognize 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 $10,000 cash prize.

Stephanie’s career as an educator has spanned 29 years. During that time, she has taught many subjects, primarily mathematics. For 11 years, she taught numerous subjects at Marrero Christian Academy. She taught sixth grade reading and mathematics for one year at McDonogh 32 Elementary School. She instructed courses in basic mathematics for one summer as an adjunct professor at Delgado Community College. She also taught Gifted/Academy English Language Arts and mathematics for 17 years at R.K. Smith Middle School.

While employed at Smith Middle, Stephanie completed stints as the Chair of the Mathematics Department, the Improving Student Learning cadre, and the School Improvement Team. In fact, she was teaching Gifted/Academy Mathematics at the time she garnered her PAEMST. In July 2020, Stephanie accepted a position as the Instructional Facilitator for Gifted, Talented, and the Arts for St. Charles Parish Schools, but still taught gifted enrichment in grades one, two, five, and Algebra 1 eLearning.

For her work in the classroom, Stephanie has earned many accolades. She was named the District Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2018, and in 2019, she was named an American Petroleum Institute Distinguished Teacher.  Stephanie has also presented at the Louisiana Association of Teachers of Mathematics and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) conventions and participated in the “Digital Tools and Mathematical Modelling in Mathematics” Institute at the University of Würzburg in Germany.

Stephanie earned her Bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in Elementary Education from Southern University in New Orleans. She earned her Master’s degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Gifted and Talented from the University of New Orleans. She is currently working on her Ph.D. She has also earned her National Board Certification in Early Adolescence Mathematics.

Former junior high school teacher Geraldine Darden of Virginia became the 14th African American in the country to earn a doctorate in mathematics. Photo credit:Black Women in Mathematics

Many extraordinary educators make a mark in areas other than teaching. This is certainly the case with junior high school math teacher Geraldine Claudette Darden, who became the 14th African American in the country to earn a doctorate in mathematics.

Geraldine was born on July 22, 1936, in Nansemond County, Virginia. She attended segregated Black public schools in her county. By all accounts she was a very good student. After high school graduation, she enrolled at the Hampton Institute, a historically African-American institution of higher learning, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1957 and her Master’s degree in 1960. She also earned a Master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Ubana Champaign, and a PhD from Syracuse University. In fact, this remarkable educator was the 14th African American in the United States to earn a PhD in mathematics.

Geraldine accepted her first teaching position at S.H. Clarke Junior High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1957. In the summer of 1958, she saw a unique opportunity for aspiring mathematicians when the Russians launched the satelllite Sputnik, an event that spurred a national interest in mathematics and science. She applied for and received a National Science Foundation grant to attend the Summer Institute in Mathematics held at North Carolina Central University. There she met Marjorie Lee Browne, the mathematician who directed the Institute, who encouraged Geraldine to go on to graduate school at Syracuse.

After earning her degrees, Geraldine became strongly interested in mathematics education at the high school and college level. So, in addition to teaching, this Chalkboard Champion co-wrote selected papers on pre-calculus with acclaimed textbook authors Tom Apostol, Gulbank D. Chakerian, and John D. Neff.

Elementary school mathematics teacher Lois Womack from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has garnered a prestigious PAEMST award. Here she is with one of her students. Photo credit: Scripps Local Media

Congratulations to Lois Womack from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, an elementary math teacher who has earned a prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

This PAEMST is a national honor that recognizes the dedication, hard work, and important role 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 honor comes with a $10,000 cash prize, a certificate signed by President Joe Biden, and a trip to Washington, DC, to attend an honors ceremony with the President.

Lois currently teaches fourth and fifth grade mathematics at Marvin E. Pratt Elementary School in Milwaukee. She has taught there for the past five years. Prior to that, she worked at Starms Discovery Learning Center for 11 years, six as the school’s Mathematics Teacher Leader and five as a fifth grade teacher. Lois was an Elementary Mathematics Assistant Coordinator and Mathematics Teaching Specialist, supporting mathematics teaching and learning districtwide, for five years. She spent six years at Hi-Mount Community School, where she began her teaching career.

Lois says she is passionate about teaching. Her goal each day is to make the mathematics concepts and skills clear in order to enhance students’ understanding. She also places an emphasis on building relationships and on being a good role model to improve students’ achievement. “I want kids to see me and know they can go into math and science fields and excel,” declares Lois. “I knew I wanted to teach math and break down concepts for kids, and help create that growth mindset, so they are confident about their skills,” she continues.

During her years at Marvin E. Pratt Elementary, Lois was appointed the Math Champion; was the chair of the Mathematics Committee for three years; and provided professional development for staff. Additionally, she conducted professional development sessions on working with advanced learners in mathematics and creating equitable and accessible mathematics classrooms for teachers and administrators throughout the district.

Her PAEMST is not the only recognition Lois has earned. In March 2021, she garnered the Excellence in Education award from the Milwaukee Board of School Directors.

Lois earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

To read more about Lois Womack, click on this link to Scripps Local Media.