Shorecrest's Vince Santo Pietro is finalist for national science teaching award

Vince Santo Pietro
finalist for state teaching award

Vince Santo Pietro, science teacher at Shorecrest High School, has been selected as a state-level finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). 

Santo Pietro has taught science at Shorecrest since 1994. He was Shoreline’s 2012 Teacher of the Year and was a finalist for 2013 Puget Sound Regional Teacher of the Year.

Vince has served for many years as Shorecrest Science Club advisor, as school Webmaster, and on its emergency preparedness committee. He has been a member of District technology committees, served as the District's representative to the Washington State Public Health Lab assessment committee, and on the design team for the new Shorecrest building.

Each year he organizes a popular Astronomy Night that is open to the public. His students receive UW credit in the high school program, and he received a two-year Murdock grant to do astronomy research at the UW.

Vince is married to Nadine Santo Pietro, who teaches integrated arts at Echo Lake Elementary. He graduated from Temple University with a bachelor of arts in Chemistry and from the University of Pennsylvania with a master of science in Chemistry. He also has a masters in education from Seattle Pacific University.

A statewide committee comprised of content-area experts and award-winning teachers selected the finalists during the summer. The national PAEMST program recently confirmed their nominations.

“These amazing teachers are not only innovating in their own classrooms,” said State Superintendent Randy Dorn, “they are also inspiring innovation in their colleagues. The leadership and mentoring of teachers like these make Washington a standout in STEM education. Their efforts will benefit students for many years.”

The national PAEMST program typically announces national award recipients in the spring. State-level finalists are recognized by regional and state math and science associations and invited to several annual state events for award-winning educators.