North Elementary Teacher Jennifer McCafferty Named a Finalist for PAEMST Award

North Calloway Elementary teacher Jennifer McCafferty has been named a state finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). This is the nation's highest honor for K-12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science teachers.

McCafferty is a fourth-grade science teacher at North. She is one of four total teachers from Kentucky eligible for the award.

The two winners from Kentucky will 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.

Each year, a national committee of prominent mathematicians, scientists, mathematics and science education researchers, district level personnel and classroom teachers recommends up to 108 teachers to receive PAEMST awards. The award is given to up to two teachers in mathematics and/or science from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories, along with schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity in the United States and overseas. 

State selection committees consisting of prominent advisers in mathematics or science education, district-level personnel and/or classroom teachers reviewed Kentucky applications. These applications were evaluated using the review criteria and scoring information provided by the National Science Foundation.