2001 MILKEN EDUCATOR
AWARD RECIPIENTS
Cynthia D. Baird
Brentsville District High School - Nokesville, VA
Math teacher and department chair Cynthia Baird's leadership has transformed the math department at Brentsville District High School in Nokesville into a model for the county. Adopting an investigative approach to learning, she has her students work in groups to discover math concepts. She adopted Clemson University's Algebra Project, infusing technology and real-world applications into the traditional algebra curriculum. In addition to her own classes, Ms. Baird designed the school's integrated algebra and geometry program and has popularized the after- school math lab, drawing over 500 students last year. These efforts have helped improve math instruction and increased student achievement scores. A National Board Certified teacher and a frequent conference presenter, Ms. Baird recently taught at the Governor's Best Practices Summer Standards of Learning Institute at James Madison University.
Stephanie E. Bishop
Prince George High School – Prince George, VA
Drama teacher and fine arts department chair Stephanie Bishop has created an award-winning theater arts program at Prince George High School in Prince George. Not only does her activity-based curriculum teach students all aspects of theatre-including writing, directing and proper use of voice and diction, but her lessons are aligned to state standards. Ms. Bishop includes the entire school community in her program by encouraging faculty participation in productions, coordinating fundraisers with the PTA and spearheading an area arts festival. Her students have won district, regional and state competitions with their plays and productions, and several were selected to attend the prestigious Governor's School for the Humanities and Arts. In addition to her accomplishments in drama, Ms. Bishop has developed courses and curricula in women's studies and film.
Colin H. Brown
Washington Lee High School – Arlington, VA
Having emigrated from Jamaica, Assistant Principal Colin Brown understands the challenges faced by the largely minority student body at Washington Lee High School in Arlington. A former English teacher, he holds all students to high expectations, working to close the achievement gap between minority and other students through a variety of strategies. These include working to help create interdisciplinary approaches to instruction and assisting in the development of a program that allows ninth-grade English and social studies classes to be blocked, with students sharing the same teachers. Mr. Brown encourages participation in extracurricular activities and is the primary evaluator for English, social studies and business teachers. He serves on the Superintendent's Accountability and Evaluation Advisory Committee and has served on the African American Student Achievement Committee.
Jennifer K. Presson
Forest Glen Middle School – Suffolk, VA
Sixth-grade teacher Jennifer Presson engages her students in active learning at Forest Glen Middle School in Suffolk. Her classroom became a tropical jungle during a unit on the Amazon, and her students have churned butter and baked johnnycakes while studying the Old West. Ms. Presson's instructional approach has dramatically increased her students' reading level and achievement scores. Working with the Partners-in-Education program, she has boosted cooperation between the school and local businesses, and has worked with an after-school tutorial program in partnership with the juvenile court service unit. A National Board Certified teacher, Ms. Presson was recently selected as one of ten teachers in the state to participate in the curriculum development team for the George C. Marshall Foundation's "20th Century Virginia Role Models" program.