Former Anatomy and Physiology teacher Cara Johnson was nominated for a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching this past January. This is Johnson’s first nomination for a Presidential Award in her teaching career.

“Simply being nominated is huge,” Johnson said. “I know very few teachers [here] in Allen have even been simply nominated. So [to be nominated] was a huge recognition.”

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Engineering and Mathematics Teaching (PAESMET) is a program that was created to identify and recognize individuals and organizations that have contributed outstanding efforts in mentoring and have enhanced the participation of individuals who might not otherwise have considered or had access to opportunities.

Johnson began her teaching career educating health care patients as a dietician before transitioning to being a teacher at Allen High School.

“It was a very frustrating job, I couldn’t give patients willpower to eat healthy to lose weight,” Johnson said. “So after six years, I decided that I loved the teaching part but I didn’t like any of the sick people so I went back and got my teaching certification.”

Since then, Johnson has been teaching in Allen for the past six years and is currently in her seventh year with the district.

“Allen was very brave and they took a risk with me. I had no experience in the classroom [and] they hired me,” Johnson said. “When I was at the hospital I knew that one day I would do something different. This is where I’m supposed to be. I will be here at Allen until I retire. I love it here.”

Johnson taught Anatomy and Physiology for five years until she was recently promoted over the summer to Science Instructionalist Specialist. In her new position, Johnson is no longer teaching students in the classroom but instead teaching the teachers how to “implement their instruction.”

“Now I get to be more impactful. I get to make a bigger difference because now I get to help all of the science teachers at both Lowery and at the high school,” Johnson said.

After  Johnson’s nomination, she had to fill out an application which included a written 22-page paper, a  45-minute video, a resume and several recommendation letters.

“It was almost like a college application on steroids,” Johnson said. “I started crying when I submitted it, it was so long.”

Out of those who applied only five science teachers were selected, Johnson included, and one of those five will be chosen as the Presidential Recipient. Johnson will be honored, along with the other nominees, at a science conference in November called CAST. Johnson has also been rewarded with a trip to Austin to speak at a school board meeting and to be recognized. The winner of the actual award, which will be announced this following January or February, then get to go to Washington D.C., to meet the president, and they will also receive $10,000.

“It’s a huge deal,” Johnson said. “Clearly, to be the best science teacher in Texas [would be] huge.”