The Presidential Award means honor, privilege, and achievement. It is the most significant accomplishment of my career. Receiving the award means my work exemplifies and embodies excellence in mathematics teaching and learning. Furthermore, the award means validation and recognition, at a national level, as I continue to strive toward providing students with and ensuring students receive a quality mathematics education.

Lois Womack Milwaukee, WI | K-6, Mathematics, 2020

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

Lois A. Womack has been a fourth and fifth grade mathematics teacher at Marvin E. Pratt Elementary School for the past five years. Prior to that, she worked at Starms Discovery Learning Center for 11 years, six as the school’s Mathematics Teacher Leader and five as a fifth grade teacher. Lois was an Elementary Mathematics Assistant Coordinator and Mathematics Teaching Specialist, supporting mathematics teaching and learning districtwide, for five years. She spent six years at Hi-Mount Community School, where she began her teaching career. Lois is passionate about teaching mathematics and building relationships with students. Her goal each day is to make the mathematics concepts and skills explicit in order to enhance students’ understanding. Building relationships with students allows her to focus on their strengths and weaknesses in mathematics to improve achievement. Watching students develop and mature, both socially and academically, is her inspiration. During her tenure at Marvin E. Pratt Elementary, Lois was appointed the Math Champion; was the chair of the Mathematics Committee for three years; and provided professional development for staff. Additionally, she conducted professional development sessions on working with advanced learners in mathematics and creating equitable and accessible mathematics classrooms for teachers and administrators throughout the district. In March 2021, she received the Excellence in Education award from the Milwaukee Board of School Directors. Lois earned a B.S in education from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and an M.S. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is certified in elementary and middle grades education, elementary through ninth grade mathematics, and mathematics education.

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