As the nation's highest honor, receiving this award is so precious to me that I choose to accept it on behalf of my mom, my first teacher. My mother taught children in rural schools in South Dakota for 37 years. I learned, at a young age, from her, how to be an excellent teacher. I practiced in our dining room with teddy bears and a set of encyclopedias. How far I have come! I am deeply humbled and delightedly awed to be recognized in this manner.
Lori Keleher currently teaches eighth grade mathematics and science at Huron Middle School, as well as two credit recovery courses in the South Dakota Virtual High School. She spent the previous 14 years teaching Algebra, Geometry, and Calculus at both Miller and Wolsey-Wessington high schools in South Dakota.
In her free time, Lori enjoys working with mathematics students from across the nation via an online interactive classroom provided by Tutor.com. Lori has presented at her State’s joint mathematics and science conference for the past 5 years. She designed and developed a Career Mathematics File for her students, which gave them the opportunity to use mathematics in a variety of occupational settings. This project was featured in an article authored by Lori and published in Mathematics Teacher, the journal of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Lori has a B.S. in Biology and Mathematics from Huron University. She is certified in secondary and middle-level education. As her State’s first National Board Certified Teacher in the area of adolescent and young adulthood mathematics, Lori provides candidate support for fellow teachers attempting National Board Certification.
- High-resolution version of the official portrait photograph
- Awardee holding Presidential citation between the Director of the National Science Foundation, Dr. Subra Suresh and the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Dr. John P. Holdren
- High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph
