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Congress OKs bill that assures Marianas STEM teacher will be selected for a presidential award
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Posted on Aug 01 2022
Sablan
The U.S. Congress passed a bill last week that includes a provision that Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP) inserted in which one science or math teacher from the Marianas will be selected each year for a Presidential Award for Excellence.
Currently, CNMI teachers must compete with teachers from Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands for the annual Presidential Award for Excellence that has a $10,000 prize.
Sablan said in his e-kilili newsletter over the weekend that his Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Educator Awards Equity Act makes the Presidential Award for Excellence available in each of these insular areas.
He said his STEM Educator Awards Equity Act was included in the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act, H.R. 4346, which the U.S. Senate passed on Wednesday and the House of Representatives on Thursday. The bill is now on its way to President Joe Biden for enactment.
Sablan said the selected Marianas teacher will receive $10,000 from the National Science Foundation and will participate in expert-led training and collaboration opportunities in Washington, D.C.
Sablan said H.R. 4346 also establishes grants to expand access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education and encourage more CNMI students to pursue STEM-related careers.
In 2019, Joseph Muña, a 4th grade teacher at William S. Reyes Elementary School on Saipan, won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
