TEA Press Release

Two Texas teachers announced as 2016 presidential teaching award recipients

AUSTIN – Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced that Denise Koontz, a teacher in the Keller Independent School District, and Misty Ruth, a teacher in the Pasadena Independent School District, have been selected as national winners representing Texas for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). PAEMST is the highest recognition a mathematics or science teacher may receive for exemplary teaching in the United States.

“I congratulate Denise Koontz and Misty Ruth on this national recognition,” said Commissioner Morath. “These two teachers are representative of the outstanding work taking place in math and science classrooms all across our state.”