North High Principal Janice Schwarze and Superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele joined Jeff Grant at the Illinois PAEMST ceremony on Nov. 2.
Jeff Grant, DGN science teacher, is one of five finalists in Illinois honored with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Grant has been teaching at North High for 15 years and teaches AP Biology and Anatomy to junior and senior students.
Grant was recognized as a finalist on Nov. 2 at the Illinois PAEMST finalist award dinner at Fermilab. North High Principal Janice Schwarze and Superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele joined Grant at the ceremony.
“Presidential awards are very prestigious and are only awarded to a select few teachers, so we’re incredibly proud of Jeff for being a finalist. North High students and faculty are fortunate to have him as an educator on our team,” science department chair, Mike Heinz, said.
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching represent the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government specifically for K-12 mathematics and science teaching. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1983, the President may recognize up to 108 awardees per year. Since the program’s inception, more than 4,700 teachers have been recognized for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession.
“Teaching science has been a fantastically rewarding career. I get to show kids how amazingly beautiful nature is, that there still is a lot we don’t understand, and that there are so many careers that they can go into to solve the problems of the future. It is truly an honor to represent our school in this way,” Grant said.
For more information about this distinguished national award, visit the PAEMST website.