This week the White House named Stephanie Steines, a math instructor at Decorah High School, a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). PAEMST are the nation’s highest honors for teachers of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These awards honor the vital role that America’s teachers and mentors play in shaping the next generation of technical leaders, including scientists, engineers, explorers, and innovators. Teachers are selected based on their distinction in the classroom and dedication to improving STEM education.

Stephanie Steines’s teaching career spans 27 years, with the last 24 at Decorah High School teaching a variety of classes from Algebra I up through AP Statistics as well as AP Chemistry. Her current assignment includes Precalculus, AP Statistics, and Algebra I. 

Steines aims to create an active learning environment in which students are engaged in discourse with a focus on development of mathematical understanding. Students in her classroom work together to explore concepts and develop problem solving skills. She encourages students to maintain a growth mindset while they learn from their errors and build a stronger, deeper understanding of mathematics. She has served as a reader for AP Statistics, scoring responses from AP exams every summer since 2014, gaining insight into the exam. She also sits on the board for the Iowa Council of Teachers of Mathematics and currently serves as the Nominations & Election Coordinator. Steines is currently a member of Action Group 1 for the Iowa Higher Education Mathematics Transition Advisory Council, which focuses on the transition between high school and introductory collegiate level mathematics. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and chemistry from Luther College and a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Northern Iowa. 

With this award, teachers will receive $10,000 from the National Science Foundation, a certificate signed by the President, a trip to Washington, D.C. to celebrate their accomplishments, and join a prestigious cadre of more than 5,200 teacher-alumni from across the nation. While they are in D.C., they will participate in professional development activities and network with fellow STEM educators from across the nation.

Awardees reflect the expertise and dedication of the Nation’s teaching corps, and they demonstrate the positive impact of excellent teachers on student achievement. Stephanie Steines represents the most outstanding teachers America has to offer and serves as both a model and an inspiration to students and fellow teachers.

DHS Principal Brad Hurst commented, “Mrs. Steines is an extremely dedicated and hard-working teacher in our math department and goes the extra mile every day to ensure students of all mathematical abilities can succeed in her classroom. She thoughtfully designs each lesson and activity with the needs of her students at the forefront of her planning and preparation. She meets each student where they are and ensures they are challenged with rigorous instruction and supported with care and compassion. The faculty, staff, and students of Decorah High School and the Decorah Community are incredibly fortunate to have Mrs. Steines here, and we collectively celebrate the well-deserved achievement and honor she has earned.”