South Portland teacher receives presidential award
Kaler Elementary School teacher Laura Stevens has been recognized with a Presidential Award for Mathematics and Science Teaching. Stevens was one of only 213 teachers nationwide to receive the prestigious honor.
The educators will receive their awards at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 8.
Stevens has taught in South Portland since 1999, first at Small School and at Kaler since 2014. After earning her doctorate in personality and social psychology from UMASS Amherst in 1995, she completed her training in education at the University of Southern Maine.
“We are proud that the accomplishments and expertise of this outstanding educator are being recognized at the national level,” said Superintendent Ken Kunin. “Teachers approach their critical jobs with energy, caring and intelligence and it is gratifying to see this noted and rewarded.”
The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is awarded to outstanding K-12 science and mathematics teachers from across the country. Those awarded represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity schools. The winners are selected by a panel of scientists, mathematicians and educators following an initial selection process at the state level. Each nomination year of the award alternates between teachers in the kindergarten through sixth grade, and those teaching grades seven through 12. The cohort of award winners represent the two nomination years.
Winners receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion.
Dean’s lists
Champlain College
Cape Elizabeth – Georgia Morris
Scarborough – Will Vafiades, Rachel Hatem and Kyle Netherland
St. Joseph’s College
Cape Elizabeth – Ian Riddell
Scarborough – Elyse Caiazzo, Hajra Chand, Abigail Cook, Leah De Cesare, Mikaela Gove, Jean Halle, Emily Howes and Emma Tirrell
South Portland – Matthew DiBiase, Daniel Fox, Nathaniel Fox, Olivia Garland, Thao Kieu and Victoria Nappi
Tufts University
Cape Elizabeth – Josephine Barth, Mathias Barth, Vanessa Blair-Glantz, Helen Bourdeaux, Caroline Gleason, Emma Inhorn and Sterling Weatherbie
Scarborough – Misha Linnehan
University of New Hampshire
Highest Honors
Cape Elizabeth – Emily Ham
Scarborough – James Rudolph and MacKenzie Bowker
South Portland – Angela Tirabassi and Joseph Hendricks
High Honors
Scarborough – Hailee Flaherty, Elizabeth Kennerly and Nicole O’Leary
South Portland – Samantha Fuller and Kate Kunin
Honors
Cape Elizabeth – Rachel Seekins
Scarborough – Shelby Bernier and Cameron Bowker
Champlain College
President’s List
Andrea Tolman, of Scarborough
Graduates
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Logan Gaddar, of South Portland, Bachelor of Science in civil engineering
Rochester Institute of Technology
Eric Johnson, of Scarborough, Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the Kate Gleason College of Engineering.
Sarah Kearns, of Scarborough, Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from the College of Science.
Alden Porter, of South Portland, Bachelor of Science in economics from the College of Liberal Arts.
St. Lawrence University
Meghan M. Doiron, of Scarborough, majoring in performance and communications arts and psychology.
University of Rhode Island
Matthew M. Propp, of Cape Elizabeth, Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering
Amanda E. Junkins, of South Portland, Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering, and a Bachelor of Arts in French cum laude
Elizabeth A. Hardy, of South Portland, Doctor of Pharmacy magna cum laude
Jack H. Clark, of Scarborough, Bachelor of Science in ocean engineering, Bachelor of Arts in Spanish summa cum laude
Stevens
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