FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 1, 2005
Contact: Anika Mitchell Perkins
(662) 329-7124

Eight chosen as Mississippi Hall of Master Teachers finalists

 

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Eight of Mississippi’s finest K-12 teachers have been selected as finalists for this year’s Hall of Master Teachers, which was established by Mississippi University for Women in 1991.

To date, there are 91 members of the Hall of Master Teachers and they include graduates of almost every university and college in the state and some from other states.

Dr. Harry Sherman, co-director of the Hall of Master Teachers, said “These finalists have been recognized as being among the very best of Mississippi’s many outstanding teachers.”

The finalists are:

·        Peggy Carlisle, third and fourth grade teacher at Pecan Park Elementary School in Jackson

·        Debra Nelms Jackson, first, second, fourth and fifth grade teacher at Thomas L. Reeves Elementary School in Jackson

·        Gail A. Massey, first grade teacher at Bramlett Elementary in Oxford

·        Elizabeth Pollard, sixth grade gifted teacher at Henderson Intermediate School in Starkville

·        Patsy Prewitt, special education teacher at Greenville Weston High School-Weston Campus

·        Sonya P. Swafford, developmentally delayed pre-K teacher at Nailor Elementary School in Cleveland

·        James T. Reed, U.S. history teacher at Caledonia High School

·        Kenneth E. Wester, physics teacher at Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science

The eight finalists were chosen from 22 nominees by in-state selection committees. The final selection will be made by an out-of-state committee to determine who will be inducted into the Hall of Master Teachers at the ceremony to be held Friday, Dec. 2 on the MUW campus.

“Not only have they demonstrated excellence in the classroom, they have been very active in promoting their schools and their profession. Even their involvement in extracurricular and community activities was considered by the evaluators who chose them for this coveted honor,” Dr. Sherman said.

Teachers are 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.

They are also evaluated on their involvement in extracurricular and community activities

To be eligible, teachers must have at least 15 years of full-time classroom teaching experience, including at least seven years in Mississippi schools