WCPSS Teacher Honored at the White House
January 7, 2010 - Hunter Magnet Elementary teacher Carol Wooten was in the White House yesterday being congratulated by President Obama as one of the more than 100 science, math, and engineering teachers and mentors honored with the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence. |
As a winner of the Teaching Award, Wooten received a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at her discretion and this expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the White House awards ceremony and several days of educational and celebratory events, including visits with members of Congress and science agency leaders.
“The Presidential Award acknowledges my diligence and enthusiasm for teaching science,” said Wooten. “Through collaboration with other skilled educators from across the country, I plan to enhance my teaching strategies and continue lifelong learning. I will be able to further promote inquiry-based science education and science notebooks at a local, state, and national level. I am truly honored to represent Hunter Elementary and North Carolina as a Presidential Award recipient.”
Wooten teaches fifth grade mathematics, science, and social studies at Hunter Magnet Elementary. She has worked in the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) since 1998.
Wooten has won acclaim for the hands-on, problem-solving experience she provides in the classroom. She is known for her repertoire of instructional abilities associated with best practices and student success. She values student writing in science notebooks, an area she has pursued in curriculum development activities and presentations. Wooten's skill in challenging students' misconceptions of the subject matter is reflected in the reasoning and new knowledge recorded in their notebooks, which has demonstrated to other teachers what students can achieve through science writing exercises.
One parent noted that Wooten's teaching was the key to turning around his daughter's aversion to science, allowing her to develop confidence in her understanding of the material and build critical-thinking skills. Wooten has also put in countless hours as an Odyssey of the Mind coach, helping students to question and probe and to discover answers in a competitive situation.
In 2004 Wooten was chosen as WCPSS's first Kenan Fellow, a NC State University program to stimulate professional development and the engagement of science teachers in educational reform. She has been a leader in developing teacher support documents to supplement the North Carolina Science Standard Course of Study. She has led many workshops for the district and for leadership institutes and has presented at many teacher conferences.
Wooten is National Board Certified as a Middle Childhood Generalist.
"There is no higher calling than furthering the educational advancement of our nation’s young people and encouraging and inspiring our next generation of leaders," President Obama said. "These awards represent a heartfelt salute of appreciation to a remarkable group of individuals who have devoted their lives and careers to helping others and in doing so have helped us all."
The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is awarded annually to the best pre-college-level science and math teachers from across the country. The winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators following an initial selection process done at the state level.