Petal teacher selected as state finalist in Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
PETAL, Miss. (WDAM) - Petal Upper Elementary School fifth grade teacher Sarah Broadbent is breathing some rarefied air these days when its comes to her profession.
Broadbent recently was one of six selected as a state finalist in the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
The awards are considered the nation’s highest honor for S.T.E.M. teachers.
Administrators said, Broadbent’s knowledge of math and her students’ needs earned her the nomination.
“She has such a good understanding of her content, but also how students learn mathematics,” Petal Upper Elementary Principal Emily Branch said. “She’s able to appeal to different learning styles, find different ways that students learn and just really connect with the students.”
Congress created the PAEMST awards in 1983 to honor teachers like Broadbent, who motivate students to succeed in and out of the classroom.
If selected, Broadbent will receive a $10,000 prize from the National Science Foundation and be recognized at the White House, where she’ll receive a signed certificate from the president.
“I’ve been teaching for 12 years,” Broadbent said. “Never would I have expected to receive any type of award for that, and so to even be a finalist is really an honor.”
Broadbent said she doesn’t teach for the recognition, though, but for the chance to make learning an enjoyable experience for her students.
“We have a lot of fun along the way,” said Broadbent. “We love to play games in the classroom through review, and even through our learning, so we try to make things fun along with furthering their math skills.”
Branch said even if Broadbent doesn’t win, she’ll still be an inspiration to faculty and staff.
“We just want to recognize teachers because they work so hard and do a good job every day,” said Branch. “So, recognition of one is recognition for all because everything is a team approach.”
Broadbent said she will find out if she won the award in 2025.
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