I believe everyone, students as well as educators, can be successful by working hard, learning from their mistakes, and not being afraid to try new things. The Presidential Award celebrates these same ideas. It is a reminder that creating an atmosphere of respect and building relationships with your students leads to success. I am grateful for this opportunity and am mindful of the dedication of my students and support of my colleagues, both of which have meant so much to me along the way.

Jamil Siddiqui East Bridgewater, MA | 7-12, Mathematics, 2017

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Jamil Siddiqui has spent the last 25 years teaching at East Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School. He is currently the lead teacher for the mathematics department and teaches Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus, Honors Algebra II, and Honors Precalculus to students in grades 9-12. Jamil believes that anyone is capable of succeeding if they are willing to work hard and give their best effort, and he encourages students with varying abilities to be successful in his class. Jamil can often be found after school and on weekends providing extra help to students who may be struggling. His teaching encouraged 15 of his former students to become mathematics teachers themselves. Jamil has worked closely with Mass Insight Education as a mathematics lead teacher since 2012 and has served as a College Board consultant for AP Calculus since 2014. He is the Massachusetts 2019 Teacher of the Year and has spoken to preservice teachers and others in that capacity. He is also working with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and a small group of colleagues to develop new professional development opportunities for teachers. Jamil earned a B.S. in biomedical engineering, a M.A.T. in mathematics education, and a M.A. in pure mathematics, all from Boston University. He is certified in high school mathematics.

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