Among national security responsibilities, economic planning and health-care reform work, President Barack Obama took some time recently to honor Sand Creek Middle School teacher James Brown for excellence in teaching math.
Brown was given the President’s Award for Excellence in Washington, D.C., along with 100 other science, math and engineering teachers, during a Jan. 4-7 visit, according to information from the South Colonie Central School district.
He said his love of education contributed to getting the award.
I really thrive on the learning, Brown said.
He was named a recipient in July, but during the January trip, he participated in a number of professional development, tourist and recreational activities.
For the first five years of his teaching career, Brown said he did a lot of moving around, and each year faced a number of major changes.
He spent time as a math and science teacher, and now works in academic intervention services, but said during his first five years teaching he spent a lot of time asking questions, which ultimately shaped the type of teacher he is today.
`That really forced me to be seeking help from others,` he said. `There are many different ways to teach and many different ways work.`
He said sitting in on other teacher’s classes, especially when he started teaching math, helped him a great deal. He cited Tristian Kisling at Sand Creek as one teacher who helped show him how to teach math, a subject he knew well but did not have much experience teaching.
Brown also spends a lot of time in professional development, which allows him to grow as a teacher, he said.
A major highlight of the trip was `just getting to speak to so many people who are influential in government,` Brown said. `A big plus for me was meeting all these people who are very accomplished in education.`
Brown said he was able to meet with officials from the National Science foundation and learned how they allocate its $6.9 billion budget, $1 billion of which is dedicated to kindergarten through college education.
Brown also spoke with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. He said Duncan gave the recipients the opportunity to discuss ways they think education could be improved in the U.S.
He chronicled his experience at his blog, www.browndctrip.blogspot.com, which has a day-to-day account of his trip.
Brown said there were many highlights, but he especially enjoyed an I-Max movie presentation by National Geographic that focused on underwater dwelling `sea monsters.`
Brown enjoyed the opportunity to ask questions to the film’s director and contributing scientists who explained how evolution, fossils and actual data shaped the film.
The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is given to top pre-college teachers from across the U.S. annually. Distinguished mathematicians, scientists and educators choose the slate, according to South Colonie. The winners of the award were given $10,000 awards from the National Science Foundation and receive a paid trip to Washington, D.C.
`There is no higher calling than furthering the educational advancement of our nation’s young people and encouraging and inspiring our next generation of leaders,` Obama said in a statement. `These awards represent a heartfelt salute of appreciation to a remarkable group of individuals who have devoted their lives and careers to helping others and in doing so have helped us all.`
“