10 teachers selected as finalists for Mississippi Hall of Master Teachers at MUW

COLUMBUS, Miss. -- Years of excellence in teaching grades K-12 will be recognized at the Mississippi Hall of Master Teachers induction ceremony on Friday, Jan. 17 at Mississippi University for Women.

Ten of the state's finest teachers are finalists for the Mississippi Hall of Master Teachers, which was established at MUW in 1991 to recognize educators for their excellence and dedication to teaching. Teachers must have at least 15 years of teaching experience and seven years of teaching in Mississippi kindergarten through 12th grade.

Finalists are:

• Patricia L. Atkins, fourth grade teacher at East Corinth Elementary School.
• Dr. Paul Cuicchi, physics teacher at Starkville High School.
• Frankie S. Germany, seventh grade reading teacher at Neshoba Central Middle School in Philadelphia.
• Dr. Janet Littlejohn, sixth grade teacher and gifted education teacher grades second through sixth at Demonstration School in Columbus.
• Lynne Mize, music education teacher at Pierce Street Elementary School in Tupelo.
• Sandra Murphy, fourth and fifth grades science teacher at Caledonia Elementary School.
• Judith Reynolds, English and Spanish teacher at Clinton High School.
• Olivia Sansing, second grade teacher at Joe Cook Elementary School.
• Dr. Edna Waller, gifted education and fourth grade teacher at Magnolia Park Elementary School in Ocean Springs.
• Carol Wright, mathematics teacher at Weir Attendance Center.

An in-state committee comprised of five members evaluated the 22 nominees and selected the finalists. An out-of-state committee evaluated the 10 finalists and chose the 2002 inductees who will be announced to the public at the induction ceremony at noon in Hogarth Dining Center.

MUW President Claudia Limbert will be the speaker for the 12th induction ceremony that is being held in conjunction with the Institute for First-Year Teachers. The Institute was initiated in 1993 to advise and encourage beginning teachers.

To date, 67 teachers, representing almost every university and college in the state and some from other states, have been recognized in the Mississippi Hall of Master Teachers.

Teachers who are inducted have been judged on the basis of their professional activities, educational leadership, contributions to curriculum and course development, teaching philosophy and influence on students and other teachers. Involvement in extracurricular activities also is a part of the evaluation.

The induction ceremony usually is held the first Friday in December, but was postponed due to the Nov. 10 tornado.

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