An East Bay teacher has been nominated for a prestigious national award honoring her work as a dedicated mathematics educator.
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On Monday, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond, honored six outstanding mathematics and science teachers as finalists from California for the 2022 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Among them was Anamarie Buljan, a second grade teacher at Fairview Elementary in Hayward.
"These teachers have persevered through the challenges of the past year and are prime examples of excellence in the teaching of science, technology, engineering and math to their students," Thurmond said. "Their incredible efforts inspire STEM and computer science students to think creatively and critically in the classroom in preparation for the challenges of tomorrow."
Buljan is a teacher, a district math coach and Coordinator of Professional Development, as well as the Director of Primary Education for the Silicon Valley Mathematics Initiative. She was voted Teacher of the Year at Hayward Unified School District in 2019 to 2020 and was a previous PAEMST California State Finalist in 2016 and 2020.
"I am honored to be recognized as a finalist among so many other incredible educators. When any teacher is recognized, all teachers are lifted for their hard work and dedication," Buljan said in a statement to KCBS Radio. "In Hayward, we are working hard to make school fun, accessible, and to unlock the potential of each individual student. Math is important, powerful and useful, and we value all students as mathematicians and problem solvers."
She said she loves the PAEMST process because it's not about showcasing perfect teaching, instead it's about looking at a particular lesson or series of lessons from a variety of angles and reflecting on them from the student's perspective.
"It's a powerful way to improve our teaching practice while keeping students at the center. I would highly recommend any teacher to go through the process!" Buljan wrote.
If she wins, Buljan will be honored at a ceremony in Washington D.C., and will receive a $10,000 special award from the National Science Foundation. 2022 marks her 25th year in teaching.
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