Two Connecticut teachers are being honored by the White House Thursday for their work teaching mathematics and science.
Nicole Gilson is one of 213 teachers receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The honor is awarded to teachers across the country and recipients are selected by a panel of scientists, mathematicians and educators after being picked at a state level, according to the White House website.
Gilson has been teaching elementary school for 18 years and currently works at Peck Place School in Orange, according to her finalist profile. Her teaching style stands out for her workshop-style which includes a mini lesson small group targeted instruction, math partners solving problems together, then letting students work independently.
In her profile, Gilson said math was not her strong suit, and that was what inspires her to teach.
Liesl Fressola, who taught at Sandy Hook Elementary and more recently at Danbury Public Schools, is being honored for her work teaching science. Fressola was selected because she teaches in a way that allows students to work like a scientist using technology to “support their authentic investigation,” according to her profile. She will be teaching in Missouri this year.
In her profile, Fressola said teaching helped her grow personally and professionally and credited other educators who inspired her for the award.
Awardees receive $10,000 from the National Science Foundation to be used as they see fit, and they are invited to Washington, DC for the awards ceremony.
