Yajaira Fuentes-Tauber is honored for her outstanding contributions to science education
Fort Collins: Yajaira Fuentes-Tauber, a science teacher at Rocky Mountain High School, just snagged a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The White House and the National Science Foundation made the announcement, and it’s a big deal!
Along with the award, she’ll receive $10,000 from the National Science Foundation, a certificate signed by President Biden, and a trip to Washington, D.C. to celebrate. How cool is that?
This award has been around since 1983 and recognizes folks who excel in mentoring underrepresented groups in STEM. It’s all about making a difference in education.
Winners are chosen by the National Science Foundation, and they come from a pool of nominees who are vetted by a national committee. Nominations can come from anyone—colleagues, students, or administrators—who see the impact these teachers have over at least five years.
Yajaira’s story is inspiring. She moved to Brownsville, Texas from Mexico and didn’t know any English when she got there. Fast forward, she earned a biology degree, a master’s in science education, and a doctorate in organizational leadership. She’s been teaching for 18 years, with the last four at Rocky Mountain High School, where she teaches biology, zoology, and 21st-century science.
She believes her background helps her connect with her students. “I want them to see themselves in me,” she said. It’s all about representation and sharing her journey.
Yajaira didn’t have role models who looked like her when she was growing up, and that drives her to be the teacher she is today. She wants to be that person for her students, especially those who might feel out of place.
She plans to use the prize money to set up a college fund for her 7-year-old son. That’s a smart move!
This week, they announced 336 winners from 2021, 2022, and 2023, and Yajaira is one of only two winners from Colorado this year. She was nominated by a colleague in 2022, which is pretty awesome.
Yajaira is the second teacher from Rocky Mountain High School to win this award, joining Edward Waterman, who won back in 1987. Only three teachers from the Poudre School District have received this honor since it started, which shows how special this recognition is.
Another Colorado winner this year is Sidney Cerise, a math teacher at Early College Academy in Greeley. It’s great to see so many talented educators being recognized!
Reporter Kelly Lyell covers education, breaking news, and more for the Coloradoan. Reach out to him at kellylyell@coloradoan.com or follow him on social media.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Teacher at Rocky Mountain High School receives presidential award