It is both humbling and an honor to receive the Presidential Award and be grouped with outstanding individuals who stand in the gap and lead the way for the students of our nation. This award pushes me to champion ways to empower my students and give them hope in all the possibilities for their futures. I look forward to collaborating with other recipients. This opportunity will continue to challenge my reflection on and improvement of my practice.

Erin Mayer Albuquerque, NM | K-6, Mathematics, 2018

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

Erin Mayer has been an educator for 13 years. For the past seven years, she has taught at Janet Kahn School of Integrated Arts and currently teaches all subjects to her fourth/fifth grade class. She began her career at Wherry Elementary School, where she taught for six years. In her classroom, students participate in authentic roles and scenarios to develop a deep understanding of mathematics. Erin engages students in self-advocacy opportunities including speaking at conferences and being part of Ted Talks, The Voices of the Kids. Erin values being part of the national dialogue on improving mathematics education, presenting at conferences and coauthoring publications to support high-quality instruction. Erin is a lead developer for Achievement Inspired Mathematics for Scaffolding Student Success (AIM4S^3), a mathematics framework. AIM4S^3 was developed to provide equitable access to mathematics for English language learners and students who struggle with mathematics. It gives teachers tools and strategies to meet the needs of these learners. Erin earned a B.S. in child development psychology and a M.A. in elementary education from the University of New Mexico and has her National Board Certification as a Middle Childhood Generalist. She is certified in elementary education in kindergarten through eighth grade with an endorsement in Teaching English as a second language.

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