Two local teachers honored by state
By From staff reports
Published in News on June 16, 2014 1:46 PM
Two math teachers with Wayne County Public Schools have been selected for the Governor's Teacher Network.
Brogden Middle School Title I teacher Karen Fulkerson and Mount Olive Middle School fifth-grade math teacher Jennifer Harper are among 450 outstanding educators from across the state who will serve in the network for one year as instructional and professional development experts and facilitators.
Mrs. Fulkerson is a 29-year education veteran. After serving six years as an instructional assistant, she became a teacher in Kinston in 1991. She has worked in various education roles in North Carolina, Texas and Illinois and has been at Brogden for the past five years. In addition to facilitating school-level staff development in literacy and Common Core implementation, she also serves as the school's language arts department chair, curriculum facilitator and AdvancED/SACS Accreditation Committee chair.
"As part of the Governor's Teacher Network, I will have the opportunity to participate in research on using writing skills to improve reading comprehension," she said. "At the conclusion of the research, I will provide a face-to-face professional development session to showcase the project, activities and outcomes to educators on a district or state level. I will also work with NCDPI to develop an online computer mini-module that will be available to teachers across the state to explain the project and outcomes."
Mrs. Harper, a 16-year veteran mathematics teacher, is completing her fifth year at Mount Olive Middle. As a mathematics leader, she has assisted and facilitated district and school level professional development in the area of Common Core, assisted with the development of the district's Math Common Core pacing guide, and serves as the coordinator for STAR Math and Accelerated Math at her school. She was the 2011-2012 Wayne County Public Schools Middle School Teacher of the Year and the 2013-2014 Outstanding Elementary School Mathematics Teacher of the Year.
Teachers were chosen for the Governor's Teacher Network through a rigorous application process.