The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is a celebration of learning and teaching. I am deeply humbled to have received this incredible honor. I believe this recognition reflects the influence of the teachers and students who have shaped me both as a person and as an educator. It especially honors my mother, a lifelong educator, whose dedication and passion have inspired me throughout my career. I am proud to carry on her work.

Benjamin Isecke Hackensack, NJ | 7-12, Mathematics, 2023

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

Benjamin "Ben" Isecke has been teaching high school computer science (CS) and music for 17 years. He spent a year and a half at the Vocal Performing Arts Program in Jersey City, followed by eight years at McNair Academic High School. Since 2014, Ben has been teaching at Bergen County Academies, offering a wide variety of courses to 9th-12th grade students ranging from Software Engineering to Mathematics of CS to Pit Orchestra. Ben maintains that teaching two disciplines continually challenges his educational philosophy and pedagogical approaches, making him a better educator. He endeavors to create once-in-a-lifetime learning experiences that help students transform their understanding and skills in profound ways. These experiences revolve around activities that might feel impossible before students achieve them, such as building a complete processor from logic gates, developing and presenting a real-world software project for a client, or accompanying themselves on the piano while singing songs they’ve notated themselves. However, with carefully guided instruction and clearly defined benchmarks, students are capable of doing amazing things. Ben has created and presented a wide array of professional development workshops both in the schools he has taught and for outside organizations. He has presented on many topics including: Learning and the Brain; How to Prepare for the Praxis CS Test; and Teachers Observing Teachers. He has learned an incredible amount about best practices from his colleagues and believes that the best help for teachers comes from their peers. Ben earned a B.A. in both music and CS from Williams College, and an M.M. in choral conducting from Mannes, the New School for Music. He is certified K-12 in music and CS technology.

Know a great teacher like Benjamin Isecke? Nominate them for PAEMST!