Clovis educator finalist for award

SANTA FE — A decorated Clovis educator was named as one of four state finalists for the 2021 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

Mesa Elementary teacher Silvia Miranda is one of the state’s K-6 mathematics finalists, according to a release from the New Mexico Public Education Department.

Miranda, along with three other elementary teachers across the state, were selected by a national committee comprised of prominent mathematicians, scientists, mathematics/science education researchers, district level personnel and classroom teachers.

The committee annually selects no more than two teachers in the mathematics and science categories from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Territories as a group (comprising American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and schools operated in the United States and overseas by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA).

The 2021 award winners, who will be announced in August, receive a trip to Washington, D.C., where they attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities. They also receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation, a presidential certificate, and join an elite cohort of award-winning teachers who can influence state and national STEM teaching.

Miranda, in 2018, was recognized as a Milken Educator and received a $25,000 award from the Milken Family Foundation.

Joining Miranda as New Mexico nominees are Jacqueline Cook from Albuquerque Public Schools in mathematics, and Hope Cahill of Santa Fe Public Schools and Amanda Pacheco-Suazo of Albuquerque Public Schools in the K-6 science category.