Washington Island STEM teacher Miranda Dahlke received a surprise on Monday when she formally received recognition from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as a state finalist for the 2023 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Students, staff members, and a few boxes of doughnuts were present for the brief ceremony recognizing Dahlke for her efforts as a science and math teacher at the school. 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 have qualified for the international competition multiple times. Since Dahlke was unable to make a recent ceremony celebrating the achievement, Kevin Anderson from the DPI presented her with the award.

News of the recognition came back in March when Dahlke was named a finalist in the state out of a field of many applicants. She said in March that she applied after she was able to get plenty of experience teaching STEM concepts to her Washington Island students.

Dahlke is still waiting on her invitation to the White House. 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.

Pictures and videos courtesy of Washington Island School District