Winning the Presidential Award goes beyond validating a lifetime of work, it provides a platform that I can use to help empower others. Starting off as an educator, I had strong professional mentors that not only had high expectations, but also offered both guidance and support. The teacher that I am today represents the sum of the efforts of many passionate educators who selflessly invested time into a young colleague. This award reminds me of the importance of quality mentorship in education.

Thomas Jenkins Jr. Enon, OH | 7-12, Science, 2021

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

Thomas "Tom" Jenkins has been an educator for the past 26 years and spent the last 24 years teaching eighth grade science and eighth grade STEM at Greenon Junior/Senior High School. He spent his first two years teaching at Schaefer Middle School. Tom recently took part in the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program over the course of the 2022-2023 school year, where he was hosted by the Department of Defense at the Naval Surface Warfare Center. Tom hopes to inspire his students by not only introducing a wide range of scientific concepts, but also creating an environment where they can apply their knowledge to real-world problems. Drawing on his first-hand experience as a NASA Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy Airborne Astronomy Ambassador and as a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Teacher at Sea, he focuses on data-driven critical thinking skills. Tom’s Greenon Local School’s InvenTeam was awarded a Lemelson-MIT grant to work with industry and governmental agencies to create a device that helps prevent pollution from entering Ohio’s waterways. Microsoft's #MakeWhatsNext recently helped the team secure a United States Patent for their invention. Tom has worked with students as a teaching fellow for Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering and as a lead instructor at Air Camp. He’s mentored educators as an instructor at Wittenberg University, Manager of Special Projects at the Dayton Regional STEM Center, and as the Boeing Science Laureate at Teaching Channel. Tom earned a Master of Science Teaching and a B.A. in elementary education from Wright State University. He has also completed the University of Cincinnati’s Secondary Engineering Certification program. He is a National Board Certified Teacher.

Know a great teacher like Thomas Jenkins Jr.? Nominate them for PAEMST!