Al Celentano, principal of General Douglas MacArthur High School, is proud to announce that President Bush has named Ann Davidian, teacher of mathematics at MacArthur High School in Levittown, as a recipient of the 2001 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the nation's highest award for science and mathematics teachers. Mrs. Davidian was selected from more than 600 national finalists from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, US territories, and US Department of Defense schools. Each awardee receives a $7,500 grant to the awardee's school and a trip to Washington, DC where they are recognized for their professional achievements and participate in a variety of educational and celebratory events. The awardees meet with members of Congress and the administration, discuss the latest issues in mathematics and science teaching, and have the opportunity to share their expertise with colleagues. National Science Foundation Director Rita Colwell commented on the award, saying, "We salute these extraordinary teachers for their unceasing efforts in encouraging students to challenge the possibilities and sharing their enthusiasm for mathematics and science."

Mrs. Davidian began her career with the Levittown School District in 1972 and has taught every math course offered on the secondary level from seventh grade General Math to AP Calculus. After her graduation from St. John's University with a BA in mathematics, cum laude, she went on to study for her masters in mathematics education from Queens College and her professional diploma in administration from St. John's where she attained 3.8 and 3.9 indices respectively. She is the co-author of two mathematics textbooks, Functions Modeling Change and Math B Review. In addition, her articles have appeared in professional publications, and she has been invited to write questions for the SAT, ACT and Regents exams. She has served as a team leader and a consultant on the BOCES Math A and Math 8 assessment tests and curriculum projects. When Texas Instruments introduced the TI Navigator as an instructional tool, Mrs. Davidian became a pilot teacher in that and in the Harvard Reform Precalculus program. She is a board member of the Calculus Consortium for Higher Education and is on the board of directors of the Mathematics Consortium Working Group, and the MacArthur School Development Committee. She has served as an in-service teacher and a workshop leader on the Harvard Reform Precalculus Course and AP Calculus. She is a referee for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, a teacher liaison for the Trig-Star Contest, and as an advisor to both the National Honor Society and Mathletes. For the past five years she has been selected as a presenter at various conferences for mathematics teachers. Named the Nassau County Mathematics Teacher of the Year in 1997, she is also the recipient of the Radio Shack National Teacher Award, the Hofstra University/News 1 Educator of the Month, the Pathfinder Award for Education, WLIW (Channel 55) Educator of the Week, and Honorary Lifetime Membership in PTA. This fall Mrs. Davidian will be bringing her expertise to the position of chairperson of the Mathematics Department as she succeeds Andrew Lippai who is retiring from the district.

The staff and students of MacArthur High School congratulate Mrs. Davidian on this honor that she has brought to herself and to the school and district as well.