The Presidential Award recognizes educators with the highest level of commitment to effective teaching practices in the areas of mathematics and science. Personally, this award is a culmination of efforts put forth by the State of Iowa, Des Moines Public Schools, and the Downtown School community resulting in my ability and passion to provide meaningful and individualized learning opportunities. I am honored to accept this award and do so on behalf of my colleagues, families, and students.

Josie Burg Des Moines, IA | K-6, Mathematics, 2012

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

Josie Burg has been an elementary teacher in Iowa for 9 years. For the past 6 years, she has taught 7-, 8-, and 9-year-olds at the Downtown School in the Des Moines Public School District. Previously, she taught at Jackson Elementary in Des Moines and St. Patrick’s Catholic School in the Perry Community School District. One of Josie’s favorite parts of teaching is thinking about her students as mathematicians and helping to guide them in developing their own strategies while engaged in solving problems. She feels it is her role to provide her students with meaningful instruction that, in turn, allows them to have a solid foundation in mathematics. In addition to her responsibilities in the classroom, Josie has served as a mathematics instructor for Heartland Area Education Agency and her classroom has been opened to educators and administrators from across the State of Iowa to observe her teaching practices. Josie has been a cooperating teacher for undergraduate students in the discipline of mathematics for several years and is a member of the Iowa Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Josie has a B.A. in elementary education from the University of Northern Iowa and an M.S. in advanced studies in elementary education from Drake University. She is certified to teach kindergarten through sixth grade elementary curriculum.

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