Local educators vying for $25,000 prizes each
Six of the Blue Ridge region’s best teachers have been selected as finalists for the 2016 McGlothlin Awards for Teaching Excellence. Contenders include educators from Roanoke City, Montgomery, Bedford, Campbell, and Giles Counties Virginia. Also, included is representation from Sullivan County in Tennesee. Two winners(who will be awarded $25,000 each), will be announced April 7 at a ceremony conducted by the McGlothlin Foundation, Blue Ridge PBS and Radford University’s College of Education and Human Development.
The three finalists in the elementary category are: Kelly Linkenhoker – Price’s Fork Elementary School, Montgomery County Public Schools, (VA); Kelly Steele – New London Academy, Bedford County Public Schools, (VA); Alice Watson – Leesville Road Elementary School, Campbell County Public Schools, (VA).
The three finalists in the secondary category are: Erika Hackworth – Woodrow Wilson Middle School, Roanoke City Public Schools, (VA); Stephanie Miller – Colonial Heights Middle School, Sullivan County Public Schools, (TN); Lynn Williams – Giles High School, Giles County Public Schools, (VA).
Join in on April 7 at Radford University for a Celebration of Teaching, followed by the Awards ceremony.
Blue Ridge PBS administers the months-long candidate application and judging process for the McGlothlin Awards are given annually by the McGlothlin Foundation of Bristol, Va. Only teachers in selected portions of Virginia, Tennessee, West Virginia and Kentucky are eligible. Two winning teachers, one from grades K-5 and one from grades 6-12, must use $10,000 of the $25,000 award for international travel, and then apply that experience to enrich their teaching.
The finalists, selected from 19 semi-finalists, were judged based on a standards-based lesson plan with a 20-minute video of themselves teaching the lesson in their classrooms. Judges will next conduct interviews to further evaluate the finalists. Criteria include classroom instruction, classroom management, interaction with students, and use of instructional technology such as computers, video, or digital cameras.
“The judges are challenged to finalize their selections,” said Adele Morris, director for the McGlothin awards. “This is an elite group of individuals who are extremely dedicated, talented and appreciated by their students, school and community.”
Blue Ridge PBS has administered the McGlothlin Awards since 1999. For more information about the awards, the April 7 ceremony and the McGlothlin Celebration of Teaching, visit http://www.radford.edu/mcglothlin/.
About Blue Ridge PBS
Blue Ridge PBS is the four-time winner of regional Emmy Awards for documentaries and community service. Founded in 1967, Blue Ridge PBS is the sole public multimedia enterprise serving portions of five states.
About the McGlothlin Foundation
Beginning in a farmhouse nestled in the mountains of Buchanan County, Va., the McGlothlin family was sustained in their early years through farming and coal mining. As their success grew, the family business became involved in oil, gas, real estate and financial services. The McGlothlin Foundation was created in 1998 to support worthy causes in higher education, health care, and the arts in southwest Virginia, West Virginia, eastern Kentucky and northeast Tennessee.
About Radford University
Radford University is a comprehensive, public university in Southwest Virginia. Serving a student population of nearly 10,000, Radford features a strong service orientation on a beautiful 191-acre American classical campus. The university offers 67 degree programs in 38 disciplines and two certificates at the undergraduate level; 22 master’s programs in 17 disciplines and three doctoral programs at the graduate level; ten post-baccalaureate certificates and one post-master’s certificate. A Division I member of the NCAA, Radford participates in 16 varsity sports for women and men.
