The Presidential Award illuminates the dedication and hard work put forth by my students, peers, administrators, and many unnamed people that have all contributed to my learning journey. It is with deep gratitude that I am granted this opportunity. Accepting the award propels me to soar even higher than I could imagine in pursuit of re-imagining the mathematical learning environment.

Patricia Smith Clover, SC | K-6, Mathematics, 2018

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

Patricia Smith is in her 26th year of education, spending the past nine at Bethel Elementary in fifth grade mathematics. She previously taught computer applications and programming at Johnston Middle School for nine years and Waukee Middle School for eight years. Patricia's pursuit to redefine mathematical learning environments led her to Stanford University’s Center to Support Excellence in Teaching. This led her to present her school’s first numeracy night. A local news segment on her math imagineering project was picked up by National SmartBrief. In her classes, Patricia works to integrate STEM unit challenges. As Clover School District’s Teacher of the Year, Patricia led the forum in community service and locally published a book for new teachers. At local and state levels, she has spoken on setting the stage for numeracy, embracing student thinking in the math classroom, and video self-reflection in professional learning. Patricia served as a member on the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee’s Mathematics Standards Review Panel and currently serves on South Carolina’s Council for Teaching Mathematics nomination committee. She earned a B.S. in education from Iowa State University and an M.A. in education from the University of Phoenix. She is certified in elementary and middle level mathematics.

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