Two Gwinnett County teachers have been named finalists for the 2024 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).
Carmen Smith, a Sugar Hill Elementary School advanced math teacher, is one of two Georgia math finalists.
Stephanie Aseltine, a Simonton Elementary School science teacher, is one of three finalists for the science award.
“I am honored to represent Sugar Hill, the Lanier Cluster, Gwinnett, and the State of Georgia at this level,” Smith said.
According to a Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) press release, Smith has been working toward this award for a decade.
“Mrs. Aseltine is an exceptional teacher whose passion for science and student learning generates excitement and enthusiasm in students,” Simonton Elementary Principal Tamara Perkins said.
The award was established by Congress in 1983 and are the highest honors given by the U.S. government for K-12 STEM teachers. Each year, the president can honor up to 108 teachers.
The next step is for the National Science Foundation (NSF) to judge the finalists recommended to the president of the United States. This part of the process typically lasts two to five years before being announced.
Smith was celebrated by the Georgia Department of Education’s (GADOE) Math Con Gala last month and Aseltine will be recognized in February of next year at the Georgia Science Teachers Association (GSTA) conference.
