WCPS Teacher Finalist for Presidential Teacher Award

By: Press Release: Ken Derksen, Public Information Officer, Wayne County Public Schools. | WNCT
Published: November 30, 2008

Goldsboro, N.C. - Tracy Thomas, a second grade teacher at Meadow Lane Elementary School was recently selected as one of three North Carolina finalists in the 2008 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Program.

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Program was established in 1983 by the White House and is sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The program identifies outstanding mathematics and science teachers, kindergarten through 12th grade, in each state and the four U.S. jurisdictions.

“I am very excited about Ms. Thomas’ selection as a finalist in the Presidential Awards Program,” states Joyce Cunningham, WCPS Director of Mathematics. “She is an exemplary leader in the area of mathematics and a superior teacher of mathematics. Ms. Thomas is an excellent choice for such a distinguished award.”

Ms. Thomas has been a teacher for over 14 years. In 2005, Ms. Thomas was named Wayne County Public Schools’ Outstanding Elementary Math Teacher.

From 2002-2008, she also served as a lead teacher at Meadow Lane Elementary through the N.C. Partnership for Improving Mathematics and Science (NC-PIMS) Grant. In this role, Ms. Thomas was involved in graduate-level coursework that focused on the area of mathematics. Additionally, she served as a presenter of the professional development to her colleagues at Meadow Lane Elementary during the five year grant.

“We are very proud to have Ms. Thomas selected as a state finalist for this prestigious award,” states Dr. Steven Taylor, WCPS Superintendent. “Ms. Thomas is an outstanding teacher, and a fine representative of Wayne County Public Schools. We wish her well in the next round of the competition.”

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction states that a NSF national committee will select one teacher from the state-level finalists for the Presidential Awards. The teacher selected as a state Presidential Awardee will be notified officially by the White House.

Awardees will receive the following:
• A citation signed by the President of the United States.
• A paid trip for two to Washington, D.C., to attend a weeklong series of recognition events and professional development opportunities.
• Gifts from program sponsors from around the country.
• A $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.