FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 30, 2006
Contact: Anika Mitchell Perkins
(662) 329-7124
Six inducted into Mississippi Hall of Master
Teachers at MUW
COLUMBUS, Miss. – The Mississippi Hall of Master
Teachers ceremony at Mississippi University for
Women recently recognized six educators for
exemplary dedication.
The six teachers were chosen from 12 finalists. This
year’s inductees were Carol Ann Drane, who teaches
all academic areas at Canton Career Center; Mary
Davis Hogan, a teacher at Casey Elementary in
Jackson; Gail Armstrong Massey, first grade teacher
at Bramlett Elementary in Oxford; Patsy Prewitt,
special education teacher at Greenville Weston High
School; Luberta Taylor, mathematics teacher at
Columbus High School and Deborah Vanderford, fifth
grade teacher at Ward-Stewart Elementary in
Starkville.
The Mississippi Hall of Master Teachers was
established in 1991 to recognize educators for their
excellence to teaching. To be eligible, teachers
must have at least 15 years of teaching experience,
including at least seven years of teaching in
Mississippi schools.
Teachers were 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 was a part of the evaluation.
The Hall now has 95 members, including graduates of
almost every teacher education program in
Mississippi, plus several from other states.
Among the finalists were Emelda O. Bryant,
mathematics teacher at Alexander Junior High in
Brookhaven; Diane J. Hink, social
studies/math/science teacher at Lawndale Elementary
in Tupelo; Martha Paul Kent, language
arts/Spanish/elementary education teacher at Blue
Mountain High School; Sarah Trotman Lacy, biology
and genetics teacher at Oxford High School; Dora N.
McCoy, math and science teacher at East Kemper
Elementary and Clara Fortune Thornton, mathematics
teacher at Pearl River High School.
The Mississippi Hall of Master Teachers was held in
conjunction with the Institute for First-year
Teachers, which was initiated in 1993 to advise and
encourage beginning teachers.
The Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Charitable Foundation
sponsored both events.
