The Presidential Award is a reflection of accomplishment in the classroom. It is a great encouragement as an educator to be nominated for the award, much less be named the winner. It validates the hard work, professional development, and decision to be an educator. It not only puts a stamp on your past dedication, but lays the groundwork for becoming an integral part of the future of education on a much broader stage than only the classroom.

Charles Rutledge III Grayson, KY | K-6, Mathematics, 2010

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Charles Rutledge has been in the field of education for 11 years. He is currently in his first year as a Mathematics Content Specialist with the Kentucky Department of Education, serving the northeast region of Kentucky in the rollout of Senate Bill 1. His previous 10 years were spent at Prichard Elementary in the Carter County School District as a Mathematics Interventions teacher and a second and third grade teacher. Charles was a member of the Kentucky Center for Mathematics (KCM) and a participant in the Partnership Institute for Math and Science Reform. Through these two programs, he participated in approximately 300 hours of workshops and professional development (PD) sessions focused on the pedagogy of mathematics in early education, which molded his own teaching. He uses hands-on tasks and discovery learning to bring mathematics to life for students, helping them realize that numbers are not merely symbols but representations of values that can be manipulated with objects and the mind. Charles has led PD sessions in his district, as well as at the Kentucky Council of Teachers of Mathematics State Conference and KCM State Conference. Charles has a B.A. and an M.A. in elementary education (prekindergarten though fifth grade) from Morehead State University.

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