Rachel Buck, a high school mathematics teacher at the Connecticut IB Academy, has been selected as a Connecticut finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).
Ms. Buck, an East Hartford Public Schools (EHPS) teacher for the past 22 years, is now one of three Connecticut middle school or high school mathematics teachers eligible to receive a PAEMST award, the nation’s highest honor for U.S. K–12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teachers.
“I am humbled and honored to be named a state PAEMST finalist,” said Ms. Buck. “I truly love having the opportunity to inspire students to learn and think critically, both in the classroom and within the larger school community. As a teacher, I strive to create a classroom where students feel safe asking questions, making mistakes and taking risks.”
The awards program is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. State finalists represent the most outstanding teachers Connecticut has to offer and serve as both a model and an inspiration to students and fellow educators.
EHPS Secondary Mathematics Curriculum Supervisor Bob Janes said, “Rachel is a dedicated and innovative teacher-leader who is committed to student growth and the success of her school community. She has taught at East Hartford Public Schools for 22 years, teaching almost every grade level of math we offer at the high school level. In that time, she has experimented with new approaches to make her classroom almost entirely student-led. It is a joy to watch her teach.”
Outside of her classroom at Connecticut IB Academy, Ms. Buck has dedicated countless hours to school clubs and activities, including developing a Student Advisory Board and founding an annual charity walk for pancreatic cancer research. She also inspires the next generation of teachers as a cooperating teacher for local colleges and universities.
“Rachel is hard working and always looking for ways to impact the community at large," said Connecticut IB Academy Principal Michelle Marion. "As an administrator, I appreciate Rachel’s ability to connect to our students and encourage them to strive for excellence. She role models the work ethic and commitment that we would want our students to have."
Each year, a national committee of prominent mathematicians, scientists, mathematics/science education researchers, district level personnel, and classroom teachers recommends up to 108 teachers to receive PAEMST awards. Up to two teachers—mathematics or science—from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Territories, and schools operated in the United States and overseas by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) receive the award.
Teachers who are selected as PAEMST awardees receive a trip to Washington, D.C., where they attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities. They also receive a $10,000 award from NSF, a Presidential certificate, and join an elite cohort of award-winning teachers who can influence state/jurisdiction and national STEM teaching.