SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonio ISD’s Angelica Nino, a third-grade bilingual math and science teacher at De Zavala Elementary School, is one of six Texas teachers named as a state finalist for the 2018 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

The announcement was made Wednesday by Commissioner of Education Mike Morath.

Nino is a state finalist in the category of elementary mathematics.

“This is a significant professional achievement and I am proud that she inspires the children in our district on a daily basis,” Superintendent Pedro Martinez said.

The presidential award is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 mathematics and science teaching.

The award, established by Congress in 1983, recognizes those teachers who develop and implement a high-quality instructional program that is informed by content knowledge and enhances student learning. The National Science Foundation administers the award on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Each of the Texas finalists will be honored at a State Board of Education meeting in early 2019. In addition, the math finalists, which includes Nino, will be recognized at the Conference for the Advancement of Mathematics Teaching in July 2019.