Liberty Hill teacher selected for Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy

Liberty Hill Academy special education teacher Jennifer Sutton has been selected by the National Council of Teachers in Mathematics and the National Science Teachers Association to be trained at the 2016 Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ. She will join 154 teachers from across the nation in July for a one-week, all-expenses-paid professional development opportunity.

Ms. Sutton teaches all academic subjects to first through fifth grade students in a self-contained classroom. She is known for her use of hands on experiences and the use of technology in her classroom. Recently, she took her students outside to experience fishing during literature study on the subject. In another lesson, students grew strawberries, and then baked strawberry shortcakes using their measurement skills.

“It is such an honor to have been selected to attend the 2016 Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy. I love teaching math and science and am always looking for new ways to share my passion with my students,” said Ms. Sutton. “As a special education teacher, it is my goal to help students make connections between math and science. I believe this professional development opportunity will enable me to bring new concepts to the classroom and I am very thankful for the amazing opportunity.”

At the Academy, Ms. Sutton will learn innovative ways to capture students’ interest in math and science and inspire them in these subjects. The Academy aims to:

• Deepen the teacher’s understanding of mathematics and science content with: data and statistics, measurement, force and motion.
• Build expertise in facilitating student learning through problem solving and inquiry.
• Use links between math and science to support student learning.
• Help teachers understand how children learn and apply that to classroom instruction.
• Build teacher’s knowledge base and use of instructional resources to support students’ learning Network with others involved in third- through fifth-grade mathematics and science education.

“Ms. Sutton’s enthusiasm for teaching and learning is contagious,” said Sarah Jamme, principal at Liberty Hill Academy. “In my experience, I have found that successful teachers show rigor throughout their lesson, positive relationships with students, families, and peers, and make content relevant for their students. Ms. Sutton demonstrates all three of these traits. We cannot wait for her return from the Academy so she can share her knowledge with teachers and students.”

To find out more about the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy, visit www.sendmyteacher.com.

About the Mickelson Exxon Mobil Teachers Academy

The Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy launched in 2005 through a partnership between Phil and Amy Mickelson and ExxonMobil, and the curricula was developed in conjunction with the National Science Teachers Association and Math Solutions, according to the release. Since its launch, the Academy has trained more than 5,000 teachers, impacting the lives of more than 425,000 students nationwide.

About the Charleston County School District

Charleston County School District (CCSD) is the second largest school system in South Carolina representing a unique blend of urban, suburban, and rural schools that span 1,000 square miles along the coast. CCSD serves more than 50,000 students in 86 schools and several specialized programs. With approximately 6,100 employees district-wide, CCSD is the fourth largest employer in the region. CCSD offers a diverse, expanding portfolio of options and specialized programs, delivered through neighborhood, charter, magnet, IB (international baccalaureate), and Montessori schools, and is divided into three Learning Communities led by associate superintendents. Options include specialized programs in science, engineering and mathematics; liberal arts; music and other creative and performing arts; career and technical preparation programs; and military and other public service enterprises.

About Vision 2016

Vision 2016 is the next phase of Charleston Achieving Excellence, CCSD’s flagship reform initiative. The five-year plan aims to dramatically improve the achievement of every student in Charleston County and includes three fundamental goals: 1) close the achievement gap, 2) elevate achievement overall and 3) raise the graduation rate. These goals were developed through a series of community engagement meetings in partnership with the CCSD Board of Trustees.