PAEMST

We are here to support you during the next few months as you work on your remaining application components prior to the deadline of February 5, 2026. If you need assistance or encouragement with your application, or simply want the opportunity to ask questions about certain components, be sure to register for an upcoming applicant webinar, reach out to us, or contact the PAEMST helpdesk at paemst@nsf.gov.

Being recognized as a PAEMST awardee is a tremendous honor. Awardees receive a certificate signed by the President; a trip to Washington, D.C.; a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation (NSF); and join a prestigious cadre of awardees from across the country.

To provide support, we are including some general suggestions and advice from past awardees and judges,  guidance on the written narrative, and upcoming webinars and office hours to help you finish strong!

PAEMST Application Support Canvas Course

The New Mexico State Coordinators of Mathematics and Science developed a self-paced Canvas resource as interested applicants begin their applications.

Preparing the Presidential Award Application

Advice from past awardees and judges about preparing the application:

• Work with colleagues and mentors with whom you can strategize, bounce off ideas and review your writing. There are past awardees who are eager to help. Contact the state coordinator or PAEMST for help.
• Show that you are reflective. Your thinking and growth is more important than a long list of activities and accomplishments.
• Start uploading sections of your narrative as you complete items. You can continue to edit and replace items until you hit the final Submit button.
• Be certain to follow exactly the guidelines on length, font, spacing, etc.
• Contact the PAEMST helpdesk with any questions, (e.g. video format, responses to questions, citations, etc.). They are responsive: paemst@nsf.gov or 1–855–723–6780.
• Contact the New Mexico PAEMST team at stem.learning@ped.nm.gov.

Video suggestions

• Have the video demonstrate your skill at teaching. This does not mean it has to be a lecture, but the video should show your interaction with the students and how you help them learn the concepts and skills. A video with only lab activities may not show your role in the learning as well as including some discussion.
• The class you record does not have to be perfect. Reviewers expect to see how you respond to discipline issues and disturbances in classes.
• Try to have good sound on the video so that the reviewers can hear your discussion with students. If it is hard to pick up the speech you could supply a transcript in the supplemental materials.
• You may need to record several classes to get a good video. Upload it early in the application process to cover for technical problems. Note the requirements about breaks.
• Since the video is limited to 30 minutes, describe in your narrative the activities and discussions that precede and follow the video.
• You may have one break in the video. So you could show the lesson introduction and the start of an activity, have a break, and then show the summary of the lesson. In your narrative you should describe what happened during the break.

Attributes of Great Presidential Applications (from brainstorming by reviewers)
These are ideas that often go beyond the requirements of the PAEMST application document and make the application advance from good to outstanding:

• Write in a claims and evidence style. Make the claim that you are doing great things (instruction, assessment, etc.) and provide the evidence to support that claim.
• Video and supplemental materials support the claims in the narrative.
• The focus in your narrative should be on the learning of the students and not just the mechanics of instruction.
• In your narrative, provide citations of supporting evidence in the video (e.g. time marks), supplemental materials, and other application materials.
• Provide citations of literature that support claims in the application.

Get a Mentor

Data shows that applicants who receive mentoring are much more likely to finish and create a competitive application. Mentors support by:

• Reviewing and giving feedback on mentee’s application
• Giving tips on creating a compelling application
• Guidance on application requirements and restrictions
• Instruction on Criteria for Five Dimensions of Outstanding Teaching
• Helping to review the application prior to submission

Please submit your mentor requests by January 5, 2026 in the PAEMST applicant portal.

Upcoming PAEMST Webinars

We encourage you to keep the momentum going and register for an upcoming webinar.

PAEMST webinars will provide you with a detailed overview of the application process and the opportunity to ask questions. Webinars may focus on a specific section of the application, such as the video component, or be general in nature. To register for a webinar, or to view the full schedule, applicants can visit https://paemst.nsf.gov/webinar.

Narrative Portion

Before starting your response, be sure to review each of the five dimensions in the Written Response template. You don’t need to enter your Written Response into the portal all at once. Instead, we recommend drafting and editing your answers in a separate document first, then copying and pasting your response into each text box. Remember, the total allowable character count for the response is 27,500 characters, including spaces. Additionally, special characters or images cannot be pasted into the text boxes. Please review the application packet for a full list of technical requirements for your Written Response.

• Answer all parts of each question and don’t forget to edit. You can’t get credit for what you don’t do. Answer all parts completely and concisely and have someone else edit your work and grade it according to the four-point scoring scale.
• Be honest and reflective. Teaching is a craft that we are constantly developing. We strive for perfection, but we aren’t perfect. Being a reflective practitioner is a characteristic of effective teaching. Remember, this process is about you sharing the amazing things you do in the classroom every day. Don’t try to be who you think the panelists want you to be. Be your authentic self.  
• Use your supplemental materials wisely. This is your opportunity to demonstrate the awesome teaching and learning experiences that take place every day in your classroom. Supplementary materials can take several forms including pictures (with labels) of labs, hands-on activities, field experiences, and other engaging STEM activities.
• Refer to the Guidance for the Narrative Portion. This document was created by past reviewers, state finalists and national awardees to support future applicants. It provides guiding questions to help you craft a response for each Dimension.

Office Hours

TBD in Fall 2026

Congratulations to the recent National Awardees!

SANTA FE — Five New Mexico educators are recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the nation’s highest honor for teaching in science, technology, engineering and math.

The New Mexico awardees are:

• Kimberly Conell from Albuquerque Public Schools, a 7–12 math national awardee.

• Heather Harrell from Taos Integrated School of the Arts, a K–6 science national awardee.

• Tara Palomares from Albuquerque Public Schools, a 7–12 math national awardee.

• Lesha Rupert from Albuquerque Public Schools, a 7–12 science national awardee.

• Christopher Speck from Albuquerque Public Schools, a 7–12 science national awardee.

“Congratulations to the awardees and thank you for the high-quality STEM instruction you bring to your classrooms,” said Public Education Secretary-Designate Mariana D. Padilla. “Our students thrive when they learn from educators who are passionate and well versed in content knowledge.”

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are bestowed by the United States government specifically for K–12 math and science (including computer science) teaching. The award recognizes those teachers who develop and implement a high-quality instructional program that is informed by content knowledge and enhances student learning.

Each year, a national committee of prominent mathematicians, scientists, mathematics/science education researchers, district-level personnel and classroom teachers recommends up to 108 teachers to receive the PAEMST. The National Science Foundation administers the awards on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Teachers who are selected as PAEMST awardees 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 the National Science Foundation, a presidential certificate, and membership in an elite cohort of award-winning teachers who influence STEM teaching at local, state and national levels.

Since Congress established the Presidential Awards in 1983, more than 5,200 teachers have been recognized for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession.

2024 Teachers Selected as New Mexico State Finalists

The 2024 PAEMST State Selection Committees (SSC) for Math and Science have selected finalists to move forward for the PAEMST National Review.

The SSC selected

• Elaine Blaser, a fourteen-year veteran educator who teaches fifth-grade math and science at Carlos Gilbert Elementary School for the Santa Fe Public School district as a math state finalist,
• Michelle Sanchez, who has been an educator for over twenty-three years and teaches fifth-grade math and science teacher at Pojoaque Valley Intermediate School in Santa Fe as a math state finalist, and
• Megan Strain, a fourteen-year educator who teaches fifth-grade science at Desert Hills Elementary School in the Las Cruces Public School district as a science state finalist.

The New Mexico SSC included current classroom teachers, instructional coaches, school/district administrators, retired educators, post-secondary faculty, and Math & Science Advisory Council members selected as the state finalists. State finalists will be honored at state ceremonies this year. All three PAEMST state finalists represent the most outstanding educators New Mexico has to offer, who serve as both role models and inspirations to students and fellow teachers. As state finalists, they will represent New Mexico for the National PAEMST Review in K-6 math and science education.

Each year, a national committee of prominent mathematicians, scientists, mathematics/science education researchers, district-level personnel, and classroom teachers recommends up to 108 teachers to receive PAEMST awards. Up to two teachers—mathematics or science—from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Territories as a group (comprising American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and schools operated in the United States and overseas by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) receive the award. PAEMST awardees 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.

Once again, congratulations to Elaine, Michelle, and Megan for moving math and science education forward and for the years of dedication to our New Mexico students.

2024 Teachers Selected as New Mexico State Finalists

2024—Elementary Educators (Grades K–6)