Southeast High School educator selected Georgia “Teacher of Promise”

Published 12:05 am Thursday, January 24, 2008

Amanda Jones says one of her biggest challenges as an advanced placement environmental science teacher at Southeast High School “is keeping students on task and inspiring them to care about the work they are asked to do in class.”

Officials with Whitfield County Schools say Jones has met that challenge by developing a bookless curriculum that is aligned with state standards for environmental education and gives students choices in their studies.

For her efforts, Jones has been selected by the Georgia Science Teachers Association as the 2008 Science Teacher of Promise at the high school level.

“By giving each student the choice of the order that they want to do the work and providing them with optional assignments, we have empowered them with ownership over their learning,” said Jones, who has been at Southeast for two years. “My students have shown me that they are more engaged during class time and get more fulfillment out of class than by teaching through traditional methods.”

Each year the association recognizes excellence in science teaching through the Science Teacher Promise awards and recognition program. Officials say the Science Teacher of Promise award recognizes the beginning of excellence in the teaching of science and the commitment to its improvement. Outstanding achievement in elementary, middle and high school science teaching is recognized with a state winner. The Science Teachers of Promise will be honored at an awards banquet on Feb. 15 as part of the annual GSTA Science and Leadership Conference at the Classic Convention Center in Athens. The conference will run from Feb. 13-15.