TEA Press Release

Two Texas teachers announced as 2016 presidential teaching award recipients

AUSTIN – Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced that Denise Koontz, a teacher in the Keller Independent School District, and Misty Ruth, a teacher in the Pasadena Independent School District, have been selected as national winners representing Texas for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). PAEMST is the highest recognition a mathematics or science teacher may receive for exemplary teaching in the United States.

“I congratulate Denise Koontz and Misty Ruth on this national recognition,” said Commissioner Morath. “These two teachers are representative of the outstanding work taking place in math and science classrooms all across our state.”

The nine-member Science Teachers Association of Texas Executive Board is STAT's governing body and provides strategic, programmatic, and financial direction and oversight for the association.

In 2018, five positions on the Executive Board—President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary and two Member-at-Large positions—were up for election. The STAT Nominating Committee presented to members a slate of three officers and an election among six Member-at-Large candidates. Following a two-week voting period, the election concluded April 19.