Two Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) educators received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, which is the nation’s highest award for teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
Krishni Patrick received the science award. She has taught at Piney Branch Elementary School in Takoma Park since 2007. She is a fifth-grade teacher and also has taught third grade and STEM. She started as a D.C. teaching fellow.
Upon receiving the award, Patrick said, “The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching shines a light on the everyday hard work of our nation’s teachers and the amazing students who inspire and call us to action. It is a touchstone for realizing the power and potential of scientific inquiry and STEM for students. I am humbled, grateful, and honored to be in a community of such exemplary teachers. It is the pinnacle of my career trying to make science come alive in the eyes of children.”
According to a press release from the Maryland Department of Education, “Krishni has elevated STEM throughout her career. Her past third graders raised shad in a hatchery and released the fish into the Potomac Watershed.”
Patrick holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and English from Ursinus College, a master’s degree in English from Old Dominion University, and a master’s degree in education from American University. She also earned a graduate certificate in educational leadership from Hood College and is a National Board-Certified Middle Generalist for grades two through seven.
Joan Shane received the mathematics teaching honor. She is the mathematics content specialist at Sligo Middle School in Takoma Park, where she has taught mathematics for 12 years. Shane spent the previous 11 years teaching fifth grade at Oakland Terrace Elementary School in Silver Spring with a focus on mathematics.
Upon receiving the award, Shane said, “Winning the Presidential Award is a tremendous honor and affirms that what I am doing in my classroom has meaning. My teaching philosophy has always been to make students feel comfortable, safe, and ready to learn. Anxiety around mathematics and middle school is challenging enough. Why shouldn’t my classroom be where students feel excited and engaged in mathematics? I’m proud to share my love of learning and teaching mathematics with my colleagues and future generations of enthusiastic students.”
Shane has mentored dozens of teachers during her tenure and is a supervising teacher with Alternative Certification for Effective Teachers at Montgomery College. She earned a B.A. in history from Indiana University, Bloomington, and an M.A.T from Johns Hopkins University. She holds an Advanced Professional Certificate in elementary and middle school education.
This award was established by the U.S. Congress in 1983.
