ML Teacher nominated for Presidential Award
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on December 1, 2008 1:46 PM
Tracy Thomas
Tracy Thomas, a second-grade teacher at Meadow Lane Elementary School, has been named one of three state finalists in the 2008 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Program.
A teacher for more than 14 years, Ms. Thomas was named Wayne County Public Schools' outstanding elementary math teacher in 2005.
Since 2002, she has also served as a lead teacher at Meadow Lane through the N.C. Partnership for Improving Mathematics and Science grant and served as a presenter of professional development to her colleagues at the school.
The presidential award program was established in 1983 by the White House and is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. It identifies mathematics and science teachers, kindergarten through 12th grade, in each state and four U.S. jurisdictions.
According to the state Depart-ment of Public Instruction, a committee from the National Science Foundation will select one teacher from the state-level finalists, with the ultimate recipient to be notified by the White House.
Local officials congratulated the educator for the accomplishment.
"I am very excited about Ms. Thomas' selection as a finalist in the Presidential Awards Program," said Joyce Cunningham, the district's director of mathematics. "She is an exemplary leader in the area of mathematics and a superior teacher of mathematics. Ms. Thomas is an excellent choice for such a distinguished award."
"We are very proud to have Ms. Thomas selected as a state finalist for this prestigious award," added Dr. Steven Taylor, superintendent of schools. "(She) is an outstanding teacher, and a fine representative of Wayne County Public Schools. We wish her well in the next round of the competition."
Awardees will receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation, a citation signed by the President, a paid trip for two to Washington, D.C., to attend a week-long series of recognition events and professional development opportunities and gifts from program sponsors across the nation.