The Presidential Award is a symbol of excellence. It stands for teachers who make a commitment to children every day to guide them to their full potential. It stands for teachers who inspire their students to avoid preconceived notions and explore the world around them. It stands for the talent, dedication, hard work, and perseverance that exceptional teachers bring to the field of education. I would consider it an honor to be in the company of such outstanding professionals.

Susan Madden Davidsonville, MD | K-6, Science, 2010

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

Susan Madden has been an educator in the Anne Arundel County Public School system for the past 22 years. For the last 15 years, she has taught fourth grade mathematics, science, and language arts at Davidsonville Elementary School. Susan strives to instill a love of science in her students by fostering a healthy curiosity about the world around them. She promotes exploration and inquiry through authentic learning experiences. Her students protect the Chesapeake Bay by scrubbing oysters, preserve rain forest acres by selling T-shirts, and participated in space exploration by launching an experiment on the Space Shuttle. She is cosponsor of the Green School Club, meeting before school with young environmentalists. Susan is the county’s school-based Science Lead Teacher and Davidsonville’s Science Fair Coordinator and team writer for the Green School recertification process. Susan has been awarded travel scholarships to Costa Rica, to an Audubon camp in Maine, and to Japan with the Fulbright Memorial Teacher Program. Susan has a B.S. in elementary education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a master’s equivalency in elementary education. She is a National Board Certified Middle Childhood Generalist and has an Advanced Professional Certificate in elementary education.

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