LAPS News:
Los Alamos High School (LAHS) science teacher Debbie Grothaus is one of four teachers from New Mexico in the running for the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), serving as models and inspiration for educators and students across the state.
She has been with Los Alamos Public Schools for more than 11 years, first as a substitute teacher and then joining the Science department at LAHS in 2012. She has taught Conceptual Physics, Honors Physics and AP Physics 1, and has served as the Topper Freshman Academy department chair. She is the lead Saturday School teacher and is also the advisor of the Astronomy Club.
Grothaus has been a Voya National STEM Education Fellow and received the New Mexico Excellence in Teaching Award in 2018. She said being a finalist allows her to stretch her influence and be a role model.
“It was made very clear to me through the application process that good educators are not created in a vacuum, but by the influence and help of the people around them,” the LAHS physics teacher said. “Having the opportunity to truly reflect on my teaching made me very thankful for all the people that have influenced me over the years: my colleagues, my mentors and especially my students. I would not be the educator I am without them.”
The other finalists are Kimberly Conell, Albuquerque Public Schools (math); Amanda Kraft, New Mexico International School (science) and Christopher Speck, Albuquerque Public Schools (science).
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 honors.
One or two teachers — mathematics or science — from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. territories and schools operated in the United States and overseas by the Department of Defense Education Activity receive the award.
Educators who are selected as PAEMST national awardees receive a trip to Washington, D.C., where they attend a series of recognition events and professional-learning opportunities. They also receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation, a presidential certificate and join an elite cohort of award-winning teachers who can influence STEM teaching at the local, state and national level.