2 area kindergarten teachers win presidential honors

Two kindergarten teachers from the Lumberton and Abington school districts have won the nation's highest award for childhood math education.

Kimberly Mueller of the F.L. Walther School in Lumberton and Anne Magaha of Rydal West Elementary School in Rydal are among 87 teachers nationwide to receive the 2008 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the National Science Foundation announced today.

Forty-one science teachers and 46 math teachers were chosen. The awards alternate yearly between teachers of kindergarten through sixth grade and seventh grade through high school.

Mueller and Magaha will receive a citation signed by President Obama, a trip for two to Washington, D.C., to attend recognition events and professional development opportunities and $10,000 from the National Science Foundation. They also will visit the White House.

"These awards represent a heartfelt salute of appreciation to a remarkable group of individuals who have devoted their lives and careers to helping others and in doing so have helped us all," President Obama said in a written statement.

The White House released the names of the winners earlier this month.

Contact staff writer Rita Giordano at 856-779-3841 or rgiordano@phillynews.com.