When it comes to STEM education in Door County, you have likely heard the name Miranda Dahlke. A teacher at Washington Island. She has helped the school receive thousands of dollars in grants and training sessions through the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow program. She is also one of the supervisors for the school’s SeaPerch Challenge teams, which last qualified for the international competition hosted at the University of Maryland. Earlier this month, Dahlke was named a finalist for the 2023 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. She was originally not going to apply, saying she want to build up her growing resume even more. She then decided the personal growth she has experienced in her 12 years of teaching was enough to at least try.

Dahlke says they should announce the winners of the award in the coming weeks. One awardee in mathematics and one awardee in science may receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation and professional development opportunities, along with being honored at an award ceremony in Washington D.C.