Elementary school teacher Renae Skar of Washington state has been named a state finalist for a prestigious 2024 PAEMST award. Photo Credit: The Reflector

It is always my pleasure to recognize outstanding teachers who have earned accolades for their work in the profession. Today I shine a spotlight on Renae Scar, an elementary teacher from Washington. She has been named a state finalist for a prestigious 2024 PAEMST (Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching).

The PAEMST honors 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, inventors, space explorers, and engineers. The PAEMST program, founded in 1983, is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) by 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.

Renae Skar teaches fourth grade at Hockinson Heights Elementary School (HHES) in Hockinson, She has taught there for seven years. In a career that spans a total of 19 years, she has taught every grade level from kindergarten to fifth grade.

Renae is a huge proponent of project-based learning. In fact, she says all of her science units begin with a real-world problem or project. “My students love anything hands-on, but if I had to choose one concept that has a lasting and meaningful impact on students, it’s our salmon unit,” Renae declares. “Students love learning about and raising salmon. We learn about salmon throughout the year, which culminates in releasing the salmon we raise into their natural habitat,” she continues. “Having such a meaningful, real-world experience is memorable and demonstrates how actions can make a difference,” she concludes.

Every teacher can support students in science learning, Renae says. “Look for science in the everyday world,” she advises. “Science is all around us and does not require a laboratory or a doctorate to become accessible,” she believes. “Ask children why they think something is the way it is, then listen and explore their ideas. Science is all about curiosity, which all students have an innate sense of already,” she declares.

Renae Skar: A true Chalkboard Champion.