Two Alaska Educators Recipients of PAEMST Awards

Two Alaskan teachers have been recognized with Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

Cory Ferenczy, of Airport Heights Elementary School in the Anchorage School District is a recipient in the mathematics category. Jason Daniels, of Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is a recipient in the science category.

Cori Ferenczy has taught fourth grade general education at Airport Heights Elementary School since 2016. She previously taught a first and second grade combination class at Chinook Elementary School from 2015 to 2016 and taught a fourth and fifth grade combination class at Chester Valley Elementary School from 2013 to 2015, her first three years as a teacher. Cori is a general education classroom teacher who believes that all students can excel. She discovers each child’s unique learning style and teaches mathematical concepts in a way that works for them. Students learn skills and strategies through songs, books, centers, and activities that she creates. They wonder, create, and make connections to the real world by collaborating, risk-taking, explaining, and working with hands-on, real-world materials. Each child knows that he or she can be successful in the classroom. When not teaching during the school day, Cori has offered mathematics tutoring after hours. She also participates in professional development classes offered by the school district. She has twice led a group of students to participate in the school district’s Math Bee.

Jason Daniels has spent his 23-year career teaching at Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School. During his tenure, he has taught third through sixth grades. In the 2020-2021 school year, Jason taught remotely the entire year for families in three local elementary schools, teaching fourth through sixth graders. In 2012, he traveled to Australia as a Victorian international teaching fellow, teaching for a year in Wodonga, Victoria. Jason's focus on his students is evident in his classroom. Using an inquiry-based approach to learning, he places students in the driver’s seat as they ask questions and seek understanding of science topics. In Jason's classroom, students observe phenomena in the natural world, bringing the learning to life and making it relevant to their lives. Since 2018, he spends part of his summers teaching STEM at Upstream Academy to underprivileged youth. Jason enjoys sharing his ideas with other teachers. In the past, he has led "Tech Tuesday" events, professional development workshops, and a kindergarten through fifth grade science teacher collaboration. Since 2014, Jason has participated in collaborations to write, review, and adopt new state science standards. In 2021, Jason co-presented the new state science standards to teachers across the state and is assisting in the review of the state pilot science assessment. He has been on several school district curriculum committees and is currently on the 2021-2022 science curriculum committee. He has enjoyed mentoring three preservice teachers.

Established in 1983, PAEMST is the highest award kindergarten through 12th grade mathematics and science (including computer science) teachers can receive from the U.S. government. Each year, the award criteria alternates years between kindergarten through sixth grade and seventh through 12th grade teachers. This year, kindergarten through sixth grade teachers will receive Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)