Hickman High School math teacher Deanna Wasman is a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the highest honor the government gives to math and science teachers.

The award comes with $10,000 from the National Science Foundation and a trip to Washington, D.C., to network with other math and science teachers.

Wasman has taught math at Hickman High School for 17 years and currently teaches college algebra and Advance Placement calculus.

Carol Robertson, a science teacher at Fulton High School, also won the presidential award.

�The recipients of this award are integral to ensuring our students are equipped with critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are vital to our nation�s success,� President Barack Obama said in a news release.

The 213 winners were selected by a panel of scientists, mathematicians and educators after an initial selection process at the state level.

Wasman said she strives to empower students to generate their own ideas and see themselves and their peers as experts.

�It takes time to develop a safe atmosphere where they can be challenged and also permitting them to find alternative solutions,� Wasman said. �I think they appreciate that.�

She said she tries to put the math problems in the students� hands, giving students guidance and direction only when it�s needed.

�I want them to be willing to try it on their own,� Wasman said.

She said her students frequently surprise her.

�They�ll see some math problem on the internet and tell me about it,� Wasman said. �They�re naturally curious and wanting to explore. I enjoy that.�

She said she uses iPads in her advanced calculus classes, which allows her to see how each student or group of students is working through a problem. She said the technology allows her to determine when students need some direction.

�I don�t want to give them the answers, I want them to make connections,� Wasman said.

Former student Alex Fratila, a 2015 graduate from Hickman High School, nominated Wasman for the award. Fratila is a sophomore at Brown University in Providence, R.I., majoring in computational biology.

�She is really brilliant, and you can tell that she loves teaching and learning math,� Fratila said. �She used a lot of different methods to teach, so that all students with different learning styles learned what they needed to, and she did a great job of passing her passion for calculus on to us.�

Wasman�s colleague, Ginny Lennon, gifted education specialist at Hickman, said Wasman�s students have told her that Wasman�s teaching was �magic.�

Wasman said she was somewhat uncomfortable about the recognition because she prefers to stay in the background. She said every math teacher she knows is just as passionate about math as she is.

Teachers in all disciplines share that passion for their subjects, Wasman said.

Wasman�s Washington, D.C., trip is scheduled for Sept. 7-9 and includes networking opportunities and training activities. A tour of the White House is planned, but she does not know whether award winners will meet the president.

As for the $10,000, she said she might put it toward replacing her 14-year-old car.