Video: Area Educators Named To Hall Of Master Teachers

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COLUMBUS, Miss. – Four K-12 educators were honored for their service today at the annual Mississippi Hall of Master Teachers ceremony held on the campus of Mississippi University for Women. This year’s inductees include Holly M. Bailey and Erin Hall, both of Tupelo, Dawn Barham of Columbus and Kristy Cornelius of Amory.

The recipients were judged on the basis of their educational leadership, contributions to curriculum and course development, professional activities, teaching philosophy and influence on students and other teachers and their involvement in extracurricular activities.

Bailey has been a science teacher at Tupelo Middle School for 21 years and is a National Board certified teacher specializing in Early Adolescent Science. She was the recipient of the 2001 Teacher of Distinction Award in the Tupelo School District. She was also the national recipient of the Ciba Foundation Exemplary Middle Level and High School Science Teaching Award. Most recently, Bailey was the 2013 Mentor Teacher of the Year at The W.

A former student wrote: “Some teachers stand in front of a class and lecture to their students and consider their day successful. Others go far beyond. These teachers measure success on each individual student’s success. They understand that a child yearns to feel accepted by his or her teachers. Simply put; these teachers care.”

Cornelius is in her 17th year of teaching. She is a third grade teacher at East Amory Elementary School.

“My desire is to help my students meet their fullest potential by providing a classroom environment that is safe, supports risk-taking, and invites a sharing of ideas.

“The teacher’s role is to guide, providing access to information rather than acting as the primary source of information; the students’ search for knowledge is met as they learn to search for answers to their questions,” said Cornelius.

Barham teaches music at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science. She has been teaching for 24 years and is a National Board Certified teacher. Barham has earned several awards and was recently named a 2013 National Grammy Music Educator Quarterfinalist.

A parent wrote: “Ms. Barham was a teacher and mentor to both of my daughters who attended MSMS. She lets her music be the vehicle to reach children. My oldest daughter asked me to meet with Ms. Barham during Parent’s Day at MSMS. I was later asked to chaperone and accompany the choir and orchestra on a Blues Tour. It was on this trip that I experienced the range and skill of musical ability Ms. Barham gave to her students. I was asked to accompany several other trips with Ms. Barham and her students. I now feel it is part of my own growth as non-professional musicians to be able to work with the caliber of teacher as Ms. Barham.”

Now in her 22nd year of teaching, Hall is a third grade special education at Pierce Street Elementary in Tupelo.

Her philosophy of education is best described by a quote from Peter F. Druker; “Learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. The most pressing task is to teach people how to learn.” Teaching is not what I do; it is who I am.

A former student who is autistic wrote: “Dear Mrs. Hall, I can’t believe you got nominated for master teacher. I’m so proud. I know you ‘owned’ that award because all those years you ‘teached’ me. I’ve got better in school and I never ‘forgotin’ you because you were the best special ed teacher that I ever had and met. I just ‘wanna’ say thank you for being nice to me and learning new things. I’m so proud of you. You deserve this.”

The Mississippi Hall of Master Teachers, which now includes 129 members, was established in 1991 to recognize educators for their excellence to teaching. To be eligible, teachers must have at least 15 years of teaching experience, including at least seven years of teaching in Mississippi schools.

It was held in conjunction with the Institute for New Teachers, which was initiated in 1993 to advise and encourage beginning teachers.

The Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Charitable Foundation sponsored both events.