Passaic County Mathematics Teacher Honored By White House

A Passaic County mathematics teacher was among just 213 teachers in the country and four in the state, selected to receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the White House announced Monday.

Coshetty Vargas is a teacher at Washington Park School in Totowa.

A panel of scientists, mathematicians, and educators select the awardees annually.

Vargas will receive $10,000 from the National Science Foundation and will be invited to attend an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. in September. She have the opportunity to meet with members of the Obama administration, as well.

Julia Ogden, a teacher at Woodcliff Middle School in Woodcliff Lake, was the other teacher selected from the kindergarten through sixth-grade cohort. Two science teachers from Burlington County, Victoria Gorman and Amy Mosser were named this year's recipients from the grades seven through 12 cohort.

The awardees are "integral to ensuring our students are equipped with critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are vital to our nation's success," President Obama said in a statement.

“As the United States continues to lead the way in the innovation that is shaping our future, these excellent teachers are preparing students from all corners of the country with the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills that help keep us on the cutting-edge," Obama said.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

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