On Monday, President Joe Biden announced 336 teachers and mentors from around the nation as recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) and the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM).
Central Elementary Assistant Principal Krissi Allen and Sterlington High School Teacher Lainey Hodge are two of the 336 teachers and mentors from across the nation to receive the prestigious award. These awards honor the vital role that America’s teachers and mentors play in shaping the next generation of technical leaders, including scientists, engineers, explorers, and innovators.
Allen, who is in her first year as the assistant principal at Central Elementary after spending two years in administration at East Ouachita Middle, is among the 2022 recipients being honored for her time in the classroom at Sterlington Elementary.
“The Presidential Award is a way to honor teachers and recognize that they make a difference in the community. Receiving this award is not only a validation of my teaching practices and dedication to my students, but also recognition of the support from each student, parent, colleague, and administrator along the way,” Allen said. “I am grateful for each and every one of them. To be recognized alongside this group of our nation’s STEM teachers is truly a humbling and amazing experience.”
Hodge has taught mathematics for 14 years with the past two years spent at Sterlington High School. She previously taught at Ouachita Parish High School for three years, Haughton High School for six years, and Minden High School for her first three years as a teacher. She currently teaches Geometry to various academic levels. Lainey has also taught Algebra I, Algebra III, Advanced Math, Financial Literacy, and Math Essentials.
“Receiving the Presidential Award is a testament to not only my dedication in the classroom, but also a tribute to the outstanding educators that I was blessed with as a student,” Hodge said. “Their investment into my education is what ignited my passion for teaching and learning and inspires me to continually seek ways to improve in my career. It is an honor to be recognized with such a prestigious award, and I am humbled by the opportunity to be acknowledged among such an elite community of educators.”
Established in 1983, PAEMST is the highest award K-12 math and science teachers can receive from the U.S. government. Award recipients over the years represent schools and organizations from all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools, and the U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands).
Nominees complete a rigorous application process to demonstrate deep content knowledge and an ability to adapt to a broad range of learners and teaching environments.
A panel of distinguished mathematicians, scientists, and educators at the state and national levels assess nominations before recommending awardees to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Teachers are selected based on their distinction in the classroom and dedication to improving STEM education.
MORE ABOUT KRISSI ALLEN:
Krissi Allen has been an educator for 30 years and is currently the Curriculum Coordinator at East Ouachita Middle School, a position she has held for two years. She spent the previous 15 years teaching all content areas in fourth grade, with a focus on mathematics and science the last four years at Sterlington Elementary School. She previously taught at Swartz Elementary School for 12 years and Tucker Elementary School for one year.
Krissi’s love of teaching mathematics now reaches further than her classroom. As the Curriculum Coordinator, she leads and collaborates with all teachers at East Ouachita Middle School. The passion Krissi has for mathematics makes it exceptionally rewarding to lead the mathematics teachers in implementing Ready Math and data-driven decisions to improve student achievement. Expressing a love of mathematics and building relationships with students are a signature of Krissi’s career.
Krissi always strives to create lessons that are highly engaging for students through small-group instruction and including hands-on activities to facilitate solving real-world problems. Krissi previously served as fourth grade mathematics team leader and developed instructional plans, analyzed data, and coordinated favorite activities of the students such as Glow Day and the Multiplication Battle Tournament.
She has served on vertical alignment committees and professional learning communities to collaborate with other mathematics teachers across her school and district. She strives to continually improve instruction for all students. Krissi has a B.A. in elementary education from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and an M.Ed. from Louisiana Tech University. She is certified in first through eighth grade elementary education and in educational leadership.
MORE ABOUT LAINEY HODGE:
Lainey is a mentor teacher and content leader who facilitates school and districtwide professional development (PD) to new and veteran teachers and provides ongoing curriculum implementation support in Ouachita Parish. She is a teacher leader advisor for the Louisiana Department of Education and collaborates with fellow advisors statewide to review 9-12 mathematics curricula. Additionally, she works with Rivet Education, Inc. to review PD on high-quality instructional materials.
As a lifelong learner, Lainey continually seeks new and exciting ways of engaging students in mathematics content while maintaining rigor in the classroom. Her instructional routines include strategically questioning students as they discover mathematical concepts and fostering student discourse through the learning process. Lainey earned a B.S. in biology education from Louisiana Tech University and an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction with a STEM concentration from Louisiana State University Shreveport.
She is certified in secondary mathematics, secondary biology, mentor teacher, content leader, and educational leadership. She was recognized as the 2023 Outstanding High School Teacher by the Louisiana Association of Teachers of Mathematics and the 2014 Region 7 Secondary Teacher of the Year by the Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators.
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