Five Bluefield College Teacher Education students were selected in April to serve as McGlothlin Ambassadors at the 2011 McGlothlin Celebration of Teaching Excellence.
Sponsored by the McGlothlin Foundation and the Blue Ridge Public Broadcasting Service and hosted by Radford University, the McGlothlin Celebration is designed to recognize teacher excellence and innovation in the classroom and to serve as a professional development opportunity for teachers and future teachers.
The future teachers representing Bluefield College as McGlothlin Ambassadors were Cody Bentley, an English teacher education major from Castlewood, Virginia; Christopher Keller, a history and social studies teacher education major from Midland, Virginia; Kristin Shupe Neal, a history and social studies teacher education major from Bluefield, Virginia; James Shelton, an interdisciplinary studies and elementary education major from Pounding Mill, Virginia; and Sarah Stevens, an interdisciplinary studies and elementary education major from North Tazewell, Virginia.
In addition to instructional activities with some of the region’s most outstanding educators, the Bluefield College students enjoyed remarks from keynote speaker and noted author Homer Hickam, whose book, Rocket Boys, and later movie, October Sky, was in part a testament to his beloved science teacher, Frieda J. Riley. In an address titled “October Sky: Turning Dreams into Realities,” Hickam shared recollections from inspiring educators he encountered while growing up in Coalwood, West Virginia. He also spoke about the impact of teachers at all levels.
The McGlothlin Celebration also featured the presentation of two McGlothlin Awards for Teaching Excellence to Lisa Taylor from Belview Elementary School in Montgomery County, Virginia, and Liz Phillips from Wallace Middle School in Washington County, Virginia.
“I was delighted to accompany our excellent students to this wonderful celebration of teaching,” said Dr. Donna Watson, director of the BC Teacher Education Program. “All are undoubtedly destined to be the leaders and award winners of the teaching profession in the very near future.”