Chair of Lake Forest Country Day School’s (LFCDS) Lower School Mathematics and Science department, Jennifer Rising was honored with the esteemed Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Having been nominated by a former student of hers, Mrs. Rising decided to compete for the award in 2009. She went through the very rigorous application process—and ended up becoming one of eighty-seven other K–6 mathematics and science teachers in the country to be honored.

Mrs. Rising travelled to the official award ceremony, which took place in Washington, DC. She and her fellow honorees stayed at the historic Willard Hotel, and the days that followed their arrival were filled with site-seeing and functions in their honor. The honorees were invited to the White House to meet with the President and attend his press conference outlining the next phase of his “Educate to Innovate” policy. While at the White House, Mrs. Rising and her fellow teachers were able to explore freely before being escorted into the State Dining Room for a group picture and discussion with the President. As is tradition with the group picture, the President had those from the state he hails from stand next to him. Being from Illinois, Mrs. Rising was invited to stand next to the President in the picture and talked with him, receiving a personal thank you and a hug. Later that evening the official award ceremony took place at the National Academy of Sciences so that all family members and guests could attend. The trip also included opportunities to meet many influential figures and leading-edge researchers in the math and science fields.

Mrs. Rising noted that the overall experience was very humbling and the “thrill of a lifetime.” Returning back to her students after the awards ceremony in DC, Mrs. Rising said she was overjoyed. She feels a renewed energy and enthusiasm to continue her devotion to the highest standards of teaching excellence.

In regards to her award and the significance, she talked about how as a teacher she develops and fosters the interests and talents of young students who are the scientists and mathematicians of the future. In addition, she spoke of the importance of instilling an appreciation for science and math within young students and how thinking skills and logic carry forward to help students solve problems in the future, no matter their chosen field or path.

Congratulations to Mrs. Rising for her amazing accomplishment and dedication to teaching and her students!