William Chrisman Math Teacher Finalist For Presidential Excellence Award

Posted July 8, 2015

Sparks1(Photo courtesy KCUR-FM)

Libbi Sparks, William Chrisman High School math teacher, has been selected as one of five Missouri finalists for the 2015 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), recognizing the nation’s best middle and high school math teachers.

“I congratulate you for receiving this prestigious honor,” said Jeremy Ellis, director of mathematics for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). “Your excellence in teaching mathematics makes you one of our state’s best.”

Sparks and the other four Missouri honorees will be evaluated by a national committee reporting to the National Science Foundation and a state-level Presidential Award finalist will be selected. Missouri’s honoree will receive official notification by the White House, $10,000 and a trip to Washington D.C. where they will be recognized during a variety of events. Sparks and the other Missouri finalists will also be recognized by state educational leaders in February 2016.

Sparks has been a teacher for nearly three decades. Her classroom excellence and innovative teaching was recently featured on KCUR-FM, Kansas City’s NPR affiliate.