The most exciting thing about winning has been the opportunity to share my passion for early childhood education and move others to see, hear, and think about what kindergartners can learn and do within a developmentally appropriate program. This recognition should help foster the integral role a quality kindergarten program can play in developing students who are inquiring, lifelong learners, problem-solvers, and valued members of society. I am thrilled to be in Washington to share ideas.

Susan Poage Berkeley Heights, NJ | K-6, Science, 2008

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

Susan Lee Poage has taught kindergarten at Hamilton Terrace School's Early Childhood Center since 2002. Prior to that, she was a first grade instructional review teacher for a year. Presented in two half-day sessions per day, her lessons integrate mathematics, science, language arts, social studies, and social skills. Mrs. Poage has been a leader and an innovator, devising a grant proposal to install an outdoor classroom to be used for all types of instruction. The outdoor classroom has become a discovery center. Changing with each concept being taught, it contains items that entice students to explore and ask questions. Known for her innovative teaching techniques, Mrs. Poage has developed effective problem-solving lessons for the outdoor classroom and shared them with fellow teachers. She has used the outdoor classroom to encourage unmotivated students to learn by incorporating nature into not only science, but all subjects. Mrs. Poage combines many methodologies in her lessons to reach individual learners. Her students are able to use inquiry, experimentation, and inference to learn various scientific concepts and to work individually and cooperatively toward a science goal. An assistant teacher in her classroom said that Mrs. Poage takes an idea and transforms it into an experience. Her contributions outside the classroom include participation in the science curriculum writing and district strategic planning committees and development of a kindergarten mathematics assessment. Mrs. Poage has a B.A. in elementary education from State University of New York College at Cortland and an M.A. in early childhood education, advanced curriculum and teaching from Kean University's Nathan Weiss Graduate School, where she earned academic honors with distinction. She was inducted into Alpha Epsilon Lambda, the National Honor Society for Graduate Students. Coursework after her master's degree includes literature across the curriculum and developmental reading curriculum and teaching.

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