Local teacher wins presidential award

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Former Albuquerque Public Schools teacher Vincent Case won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science teaching. The award honors the top science teacher in New Mexico. His award comes with a visit to the White House.

Case taught at APS' alternative high school Wheels for a decade before taking a position at APS' Sandia Mountain Natural History Center.

"An award of this magnitude is a real tribute Mr. Case's teaching accomplishments," APS Superintendent Winston Brooks said. "He deserves our sincere congratulations."

Case had his students maintain and collect ecological data at the Bosque ecosystem monitoring project site. They also monitored water quality in the Rio Grande using chemistry. His students ran a mentoring program at Garfield Middle School and taught elementary students about science.

“I am moved and honored by the award, and quite humbled that a group of people elsewhere and the President are recognizing me for doing what I love to do,” Case said. “Education is about a community of people working together. It is never, ever, just about one person. Neither is this award.”

In addition to the trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities and a citation signed by the President of the United States, award recipients receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion.