U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today congratulated Ragan Webb, of Fairview Elementary School in Columbia and Laura Parn, of Green Tree Elementary School in Lake St. Louis who have been selected to receive the 2012 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

“Math and science are areas our kids must concentrate on in order to compete for the jobs of tomorrow, and it’s wonderful to have an educator like Ragan achieving such amazing results here in Missouri,” McCaskill said.

The PAEMST program, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), recognizes outstanding teachers for their contributions to the teaching and learning of mathematics and science. The winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators following an initial selection process done at the state level. Webb will receive a certificate signed by the President of the United States and a $10,000 award from NSF at an awards ceremony later this year in Washington, DC.