Travis Niemeyer wins presidential award

Travis Niemeyer, a teacher at Eagle Cliffs Elementary School in Billings, has been honored with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the nation’s highest honor for teaching in these fields.

Niemeyer is the only winner from Montana, and one of 93 teachers nationwide to receive the prestigious award.

As an awardee, Niemeyer has received a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the federal agency that administers the awards program on behalf of the White House, and an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, DC, for a week of celebratory events and professional development activities.

Established by Congress in 1983, the annual Presidential Awards program identifies highly qualified mathematics and science teachers nationwide. This year’s recipients—recommended for the award by a panel of leading mathematicians, scientists, and educators—are k-6th grade teachers.

The Montana Professional Teaching Foundation administers the awards program in Montana.

With innovative lesson plans, Niemeyer teaches, engages, and excites his students about mathematics. “A class favorite is when I tell a story that captivates my students’ attention and requires them to provide solutions to the problems presented in the story,” he said.

“They enjoy this activity because it helps them understand how problems are solved.”

Congratulations, Travis!