America
Darshan Jain among math, science teachers honoured by Obama
By
By Arun KumarWashington, July 2
Darshan Jain, an Indian
American teacher is one of the 108 teachers named by President Barack
Obama as recipients of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence
in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Jain, who has taught
mathematics at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois
for eight years where he currently serves as the director of
mathematics, and other winners will receive a $10,000 award each from
the National Science Foundation.
The educators will receive their awards at a Washington, DC, event later this summer.
"These teachers are shaping America's success through their passion for math and science," Obama said of the winners.
"Their
leadership and commitment empower our children to think critically and
creatively about science, technology, engineering, and math.
"The
work these teachers are doing in our classrooms today will help ensure
that America stays on the cutting edge tomorrow," he said.
The
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is
awarded annually to outstanding K-12 (kindergarten through 12th grades)
science and mathematics teachers from across the country.
"The
Presidential Award validates my core belief that all students can learn
mathematics in authentic, rigorous, and impactful ways," Jain said.
"It is grounded in my experience that collaborative teachers can help all students achieve excellence."
"This award provides opportunities to have discussions around improving math education at local and national levels," he said.
"Students'
experiences in mathematics must fundamentally change in order to
support our national vision for equity, access, and competitiveness."
Jain's industry experience includes time spent as a project engineer and a machine designer.
Jain's
love for teaching was inspired by his work at the Hispanic Math and
Science Initiative and his students' success in learning.
As
adjunct professor for mathematics education, Jain supported novice
teachers. He now leads exceptional colleagues as curriculum director for
his district.
Jain has also contributed to the education
community by speaking on research-based pedagogy at local, state and
national conferences.
Jain has a BA in mechanical engineering and
a MS in secondary mathematics education from the University of Illinois
at Chicago. He is pursing further graduate work.
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at [email protected])