Five outstanding teachers were inducted into the Mississippi Hall of Master Teachers at Mississippi University for Women on Friday.

The inductees were announced at a luncheon, where Dr. Bettye Rogers Coward, president of Blue Mountain College, was the keynote speaker.

Inductees were Peggy Carlisle, third and fourth grade teacher at Pecan Park Elementary School in Jackson; Elizabeth Pollard, sixth grade gifted teacher at Henderson Intermediate School in Starkville; Sonya P.
Swafford, developmentally delayed pre-K teacher at H. M. Nailor Elementary School in Cleveland; James T. Reed, U.S. history teacher at Caledonia High School; and Kenneth E. Wester, physics teacher at Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science.

The Mississippi Hall of Master Teachers was established in 1991 to recognize educators for their excellence and dedication 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 more than 80 members, including graduates of almost every teacher education program in Mississippi, plus several from other states.

Among the finalists were Debra Nelms Jackson, first, second, fourth and fifth grade teacher at Thomas L. Reeves Elementary School in Long Beach School District; Gail Massey, first grade teacher at Bramlett Elementary in Oxford; and Patsy Prewitt, special education teacher at Greenville Weston High School.

The 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.


As part of the 15th annual celebration, Dr. Martha Jo Mims and Dr. Harry Sherman, emeriti professors at MUW, were recognized as honorary members of the Mississippi Hall of Master Teachers for their dedication and involvement in creating the program.