Friday, March 29, 2002
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Friday, March 29, 2002 |
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Kedron teacher gets presidential award One of the most outstanding elementary math teachers in the nation is working in the Fayette County School System. President George W. Bush has named Mary Elizabeth Mendenhall of Kedron Elementary in Peachtree City a Presidential Award winner for excellence in mathematics. It is the highest honor for mathematics that a teacher in grades K-12 can receive. Each year, after an initial selection process at the state or territorial level, a national panel of distinguished mathematicians and educators recommend teachers to receive a presidential award, one at the elementary and secondary level from each jurisdiction. Every year recipients are selected from hundreds of finalists from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories and school operated in the U.S. and overseas by the Department of Defense. Awardees each receive a $7,500 educational grant for his or her school, a presidential citation and a trip to Washington, D.C., for a series of recognition events. During their one-week stay in the nation's capital, teachers from across the country share what they are doing in their classrooms and exchange teaching ideas and strategies. Also, they have the opportunity to talk to well-renowned experts in math from throughout the United States. Mendenhall is the fourth Fayette County teacher to receive the presidential award. The first recipient was Angie Meredith from Robert J. Burch Elementary, followed by Judy Chambers from both North Fayette and Brooks Elementary schools and Crestinal Roth at East Fayette Elementary. County Math Coordinator Kay Seabolt has been named president of the Georgia Council of Supervisors for Mathematics. During her undetermined reign as president, Seabolt says she plans to work hard to promote math education in Georgia, emphasize the importance of math instructional positions and share information with math leaders across the state. The supervisors group emphasizes the importance of mathematics and shares information from the Georgia Department of Education with its members as well as keeping its membership abreast about what is going on in different counties across the state. The group frequently gives input about mathematics education to the state department and to colleges. Other math teachers who have been named to elected positions in professional organizations include Cathy Franklin of Fayette County High, the president of the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Chambers, a math instructional support teacher at North Fayette and Brooks Elementary schools, has been named vice president of the same group. "I am proud to be part of a system where teachers are given the opportunity and encouragement to become involved in their professional organizations," said Seabolt. "Also, I appreciate our administrators for nominating our outstanding teachers like Mary Elizabeth for awards that acknowledge their accomplishments. From my first day on the job in Fayette County 29 years ago until now, I am proud to be a Fayette County math teacher and to be associated with other teachers of such a high caliber."
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