Two Oahu elementary school math teachers are recent recipients of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Laura Fukumoto of Aliamanu Elementary and Dave Morishige of Mililani Mauka Elementary were among 102 educators selected for the annual national award by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematics and educators after an initial selection process at the state level.
The recipients represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Department of Defense Education Activity. Each receives a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at his or her discretion.
Fukumoto, whohas spent her entire career at Salt Lake’s Aliamanu Elementary, said that as a beginning teacher, mathematics was her weakest subject. That was until she realized, in her words, she was "teaching arithmetic, and not mathematics," according to a news release issued by the Hawaii Department of Education.
As a fifth-grade math teacher, Fukumoto strives to teach children how to think and to visualize.
"I see a genius inside each of my students, a genius that I do my very best to spark," Fukumoto said in the release. "When I help them through some pretty tough math, see the twinkle in their eyes, and hear their ‘wows’ and the ‘ahas,’ I know that I chose the very best profession, one that I love and enjoy."
Mililani Mauka’s Morishigeteaches science to students in kindergarten through fifth grade and also serves as the school’s science resource teacher. After taking on the resource position, Morishige says he felt a renewed interest in science, technology, engineering and math (known as STEM). Robotics programs he initiated at the school have earned statewide acclaim.
