Washougal educator is a state finalist for the 2025 Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching

Washougal High School science teacher William Baur is a state finalist for the 2025 Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, an annual program administered by the National Science Foundation on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Four other Washington educators join Baur as finalists for this year’s presidential award — Erin Lark, a science teacher at Skyview High School in Vancouver; Angela Ensminger, a middle school teacher at St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic School in Bellevue; John Hildenbrand, a math teacher at Stanwood High School in Stanwood; and Colleen LaMotte, a science teacher at Einstein Middle School in Shoreline.

“I am incredibly proud of Washington’s five PAEMST finalists,” Washington schools Superintendent Chris Reykdal said in a news release. “At OSPI (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction), we are grateful for the educators that have devoted their professional careers to teaching these valuable subjects and preparing our students for a diverse range of successful careers.”

A statewide committee that included classroom teachers, school district staff and subject matter experts selected the five Washington finalists. The National Science Foundation and the White House will announce the national award recipients later this year.

Real-world experience

Baur said being a finalist is “the pinnacle achievement” of his career.

“It’s something I’m very proud of,” he said.

Washougal High Principal Mark Castle said Baur’s nomination is well-deserved.

“He puts in an enormous amount of time to provide his students with real-world experiences through specifically designed labs and brings industry professionals for demonstrations,” Castle said. “(He) is constantly looking for ways to engage students in scientific and critical thinking that transfers to applications far beyond the classroom.”

A teacher since 2010, Baur worked for the Tacoma, Battle Ground and Vancouver Public Schools districts before joining the Washougal School District in 2023 to teach freshman physical science and sophomore biology classes.

“I’d say what I love most about teaching would be seeing the light bulb go on for students when they’re struggling with the concept and you just ask that right question or show that one example, and then they figure it out on their own in a way,” he said. “You’re not spoon-feeding them the answer, but you’re setting the conditions for them to make sense of it themselves or with a team.”

Baur attributes his success to his focus on getting students to ask questions about everyday experiences that interest them, then designing curricula around answering those questions.

Earlier this year, Baur designed a unit that asked students to design a school lunch that could meet all students’ nutritional needs.

“I think that unit illustrates my general philosophy of starting with something that’s an everyday experience and seeing what the science is behind it (then) getting the students to generate a bunch of questions,” he said.