The finalists for California’s 2020 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching have been announced—and an Orange County teacher is among them. Leslie Whitaker, a third-grade teacher in the Capistrano Unified School District, is one of three finalists in the mathematics category. Whitaker is based at Esencia Elementary in Rancho Mission Viejo. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who announced the finalists Dec. 22, called the nominees “bright stars and prime examples of excellence in our education system.” “These teachers are incredible educators, role models, and mentors to all those around them, and through mastery of their craft, they inspire students to study math, technology, engineering, and science—including computer science,” Thurmond said in a press release. “We hope that all students can enroll in great STEAM [science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics] and computer science programs with educators like them, to prepare them for the jobs of …