Two Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) teachers are among the state finalists for a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the nation’s highest honor for K–12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and computer science teachers.
Atherton High School chemistry teacher Andrea New and Jolie Beville, a math teacher at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, are among six Kentucky finalists. Two teachers from Kentucky will be chosen for the national award.
When she received the notification that she was a finalist, New said, “I was thrilled.” Beville had a similar reaction. “I was surprised,” she said.
Each year, a national committee of prominent mathematicians, scientists, mathematics and science education researchers, district personnel and teachers recommend 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.
New has been a teacher for 19 years, the past eight at Atherton. She is a nationally board certified teacher (NBCT) and is the past president of the Kentucky Science Teachers Association.
“I really love challenging students and seeing them learn,” New said. “My job is to make chemistry easier and more accessible.”
New added, “If there’s ever a time we need people educated in science and social studies it’s now.”
Beville is also an NBCT and expects to get her education specialist degree from the University of Louisville next month.
"Looking back on my childhood, I think of all the educators and mentors that stepped up and were invested in my success,” Beville said. “It gives me the drive to be an advocate for my students not only in mathematics but also in their entire school experience and beyond.”
She chose to teach math because, “Kids need to know it. Math is used every day.”
PAEMST awardees receive a trip to Washington, D.C. and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. New and Beville were told Kentucky's two winners are expected to be selected by the national committee in June.
Earlier this year, two JCPS teachers—duPont Manual math teacher Benjamin Molberger and Central High School science teacher Miranda Messer—received notification that they were