The award is administered by the National Science Foundation.

A Foundation release said Bacchus, a Mathematics teacher at Hilsman Middle School, Georgia, was selected from more than 600 national finalists from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, United States Territories and U.S. Department of Defense schools.

Candidates are chosen on the basis of their teaching performance, background and experience.

Bacchus received a $7,500 educational grant for his school and a trip to Washington D.C. for a variety of educational and celebratory events.

The outstanding teacher had a chance to meet members of Congress and the U.S. administration to discuss the latest issues in Mathematics and Science teaching and to share his expertise with colleagues.

"I consider it a real honour to be selected at the state level because the competition is so great - you're talking about the best Math and Science teachers in the country," the teacher told the Online Athens, Georgia publication. He did not expect to be honoured further at the national level with the Presidential award.

Bacchus was educated in Guyana where he began his career as a teacher at the Richard Ishmael Secondary School in Georgetown, teaching Mathematics.

He also taught at the Teacher's Training College in St. Lucia and gained Master's and Specialist's degrees from the University of Georgia.