I can answer in one word: affirmation. I am blown away by the phenomenal teachers that are Presidential Award winners. What an incredible honor to be counted among them and to stand shoulder to shoulder with them. Nothing compares to having the NSF and the Presidential Award leadership give a favorable nod at the national level. The measure of success is in what we are able to accomplish with our students, but a Presidential Award has to be the Academy Award for teacher affirmation.

Shannon Houtrouw Kalamazoo, MI | 7-12, Mathematics, 2021

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

Shannon Houtrouw has been teaching computer science (CS) and mathematics at the Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center (KAMSC) for 27 years. He came to KAMSC after teaching university mathematics and CS for eight years at Western Michigan University, Rochester University, and Harding University. Prior to teaching, he worked as a software systems engineer for General Motors and Electronic Data Systems. Shannon also taught three summer terms in Zimbabwe at Nhowe Mission Secondary School. KAMSC is a county pullout STEM magnet for grades 9-12. Shannon developed KAMSC’s Advanced Placement (AP) CS program. He built KAMSC’s CS Teams from the ground up and has volunteered as the coach advisor for over two decades. Each year, he introduces all KAMSC’s sophomores to CS and programming fundamentals using C++. His junior-senior electives include AP CS-A (Java), AP CS Principles (Python), Advanced CS, and Discrete Math. Shannon’s classes are characterized by infusing fun and enthusiasm with hard work. Co-ed team building activities are woven into every CS course so that each student has the opportunity to collaboratively achieve more than they thought they could, and receive affirmation and accolades they might not get otherwise. Monthly activities include American Computer Science League and USA Computer Olympiad coding. Excitement soars during field trips to programming contests hosted at Midwest universities. Shannon earned a B.S. in computer science, magna cum laude, from Oklahoma Christian University and an M.S.E. in mathematics education from Harding University. Shannon also has an M.A. in theological studies and an M.Div. in biblical studies, both from Liberty University. His certifications are in computer science and mathematics.

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