The Mississippi Department of Education announced five Mississippi K-6 teachers have been named 2022 state-level finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).
Here are the 2022 PAEMST finalists from across the state:
- Jana Chao, a fifth-grade computer science teacher at Eastside Elementary in the Clinton Public School District.
- LeShae Collums, a third-grade math teacher at D.T. Cox Elementary in the Pontotoc City School District.
- Wendy Dean, a fourth-grade teacher of all subjects at Monticello Elementary School in the Lawrence County School District.
- Jennifer Hite, a fifth-grade math and science teacher at Pearl Upper Elementary School in the Pearl Public School District.
- Dr. Marti Ladner, a fifth-grade science teacher at Pass Christian Elementary School in the Pass Christian School District.
From those five finalists, two will be chosen to receive a national award of $10,000 from the National Science Foundation.
Along with the financial award, honorees will be recognized at a White House ceremony and provide input on how to improve education in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science.
National awardees will be announced next year, with the Mississippi State Board of Education set to honor the statewide finalists at the end of 2022.
