A&M-Central Texas graduate student and Georgetown High School math teacher, Carolyn Hise, has been named one of three state finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Award (PAEMST), the nation’s highest honor for teachers of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
According to a White House press release issued last year to honor 2025 winners, the PAEMST honors the vital role that America’s teachers and mentors play in shaping the next generation of technical leaders, including scientists, engineers, and innovators.
A panel of distinguished mathematicians, scientists, and educators at both the state and national levels assess nominations before making final recommendations to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and The White House is expected to announce 300+ awardees from around the country in Spring 2026.
Hise said that being selected as a state finalist is an incredible honor and expressed gratitude to her A&M-Central Texas professors who guided and inspired her throughout her studies and her colleagues and leadership at Georgetown High School. She is currently both a full-time mathematics teacher as well as a full-time graduate student.
“Completing coursework for both a Master of Science in Mathematics and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction has been such a rewarding experience,” she said.
“My education classes have challenged me to think creatively about how to meet the varying needs of all my students, while my mathematics courses have strengthened my ability to use data analysis to inform instructional decisions.”
Hise thanked her professors individually and collectively, including College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor Mienie Roberts, Ph.D., Associate Professor Christopher Thron, Ph.D. and College of Education and Human Development Professor and Department Chair Linda Black, Ph.D. and Assistant Professor Heather Caldwell, Ph.D.
“Every professor I have had the pleasure of learning from has played a role in shaping me into the educator I am today,” she added. “Their support, expertise, and passion have elevated my teaching practice. I am so thankful for this journey, and for the opportunity to grow as both a mathematician and an educator.”
A student of the A&M-Central Texas Graduate School, Hise has 22 years of teaching experience and is excelling in not one but two graduate degree programs: the Master of Science degree in mathematics and the Master of Education in curriculum and instruction. She is expected to graduate at the A&M-Central Texas Spring 2025 Commencement on Friday, May 17th.