On February 8, 2022, Michelle Dillard found out she is a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). This is the highest recognition a K–12 STEM/computer science teacher may receive in the US. According to PAEMST.org, “Up to 108 teachers are recognized each year.”

Michelle has been a teacher for 16 years. She currently teaches fifth grade at Dr. Justina Ford Elementary School. Prior to that, she taught at Twain Elementary for 8 years. She said, “Every student deserves to be continually awed and humbled by all there is to learn about our world, and we as teachers should provide exceptional educational opportunities for all students to explore and grow. We as educators pursue excellence in our field on behalf of our students who deserve the very best every day. To me, the Presidential Award represents a tremendous honor and wonderful opportunity to partner with great educators to learn how to be the best we can be for our students.”

Michelle believes every person can be a mathematics person and loves to find engaging pathways for all learners that lead to high levels of mathematics. In her classroom, she encourages students to try on ideas as “rough draft thinking,” develop growth mindsets as they add layers to their conceptual understandings, and model novel situations. She facilitates mathematics forums and congresses to increase student discourse. Her learners love utilizing problem strings to use what they know to solve what they don’t know yet and to model a variety of connected strategies.

Michelle has served on district teams developing units of study, adopting and training others in curriculum, and acting as a model training classroom. She also served on a core team for her school’s transition to an International Baccalaureate school. She is trained in Add+Vantage Math Recovery to advance numeracy development for younger mathematicians and loves using this to help with interventions. She enjoys continually learning professionally as a member of the Colorado Council for Teachers of Mathematics.

Michelle has a B.A., summa cum laude, in elementary education from Dallas Baptist University and an M.S., summa cum laude, in linguistically and culturally diverse education from Fort Hays State University. She has a Colorado Master Teacher certification in elementary education and English as a Second Language and is a National Board Certified Middle Childhood Generalist.

Winners of the PAEMST will receive a certificate signed by President Biden and a $10,000 reward from the National Science Foundation. Awardees also receive a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend professional development as well as recognition events.

Congratulations on this tremendous achievement, Michelle, and thank you for all you do for LPS students!