Receiving the Presidential Award is a humbling experience and validates my teaching efforts. It is a highlight of my career and truly an honor to be a part of such an extraordinary group of professionals devoted to inspiring students. It fuels my passion and enthusiasm as an educator and demonstrates my path as a lifelong learner devoted to the development of young scientists. It will springboard me into my new role as a teaching principal dedicated to science inquiry.

Barbara Black Hurricane, WV | K-6, Science, 2012

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

Barbara Black has been an educator for 20 years and has spent the last 14 years teaching third grade at West Teays Elementary School in Putnam County Schools. She has ignited her passion for hands-on science learning with students in prekindergarten to fifth grade at Hometown Elementary as a teaching principal. Barbara’s goal is to create real-world opportunities for her students, such as raising trout in the classroom and growing a garden. Her love of teaching goes beyond the classroom. She serves as a master trainer for kit-based science for the West Virginia (WV) Department of Education, has a 21st-century model classroom, is vice president of the WV Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and is a mentor for National Board Certification candidates. She has participated in the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teacher Academy and Horace Mann Abraham Lincoln Fellowship. Because of Barbara’s dedication, she has been awarded the Milken Educator Award, WV Academy of Science Teacher of the Year, the Alpha Delta Kappa Excellence in Education Award, and WV Council of Teachers of Mathematics Elementary Teacher of the Year. Barbara has a B.S., summa cum laude, in elementary education from WV State College and an M.A., summa cum laude, in early childhood from Marshall University. She is certified in elementary education and leadership studies and is a National Board Certified Middle Childhood Generalist.

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