Sanford Middle School science teacher Diana Allen was recently honored at the Maine Department of Education Annual Summit in August as a recipient of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).
Back in January, Allen was one of 336 educators nationwide to receive the award, which is the highest recognition a K-12 mathematics or science teacher can get from the U.S. government.
Related: (Diana Allen Receives Presidential Teaching Award)
Allen, who was initially selected as one of three Maine state finalists, completed an intensive application process that required demonstrating deep content knowledge and adaptability to diverse learning environments. Her application included a recorded teaching demonstration at a local brook, where she partnered with Maine Audubon to teach students about macroinvertebrates.
The process required detailed analysis of teaching practices, addressing student misconceptions, managing classroom diversity, and demonstrating educational leadership at local, state, and national levels.
During the MDOE summit, Diana was presented with her award by Tonya Prentice, joining an elite group of Maine educators who have earned this distinguished recognition. Her selection reflects not only her classroom excellence but also her commitment to fostering scientific thinking and discovery among her middle school students.