DCSF hands out teacher awards

Brooke Thorn, a math teacher at Demopolis High School, is this year’s Hugh A. Lloyd Excellence in Education Award winner.

The Hugh A. Lloyd Excellence in Education Award is presented by the Demopolis City Schools Foundation each year to a teacher who best shows commitment to the mission of the Foundation – to foster and promote excellence in the school system. Thorn’s grant put Smartboards in all of the math classrooms at the high school.

In her own words, Thorn described the difference this technology has made in the classroom.

“Our students are a very technology based generation, so being able to bring a new, advanced technology such as the SmartBoard into the classroom has brought the math classroom “up-to-date” with our students. The SmartBoard and its technology is something that they can relate to, which increases their interest in learning the material. I have seen students who were always reluctant to go to the board be eager to volunteer to do work on the SmartBoard. I have also seen success in keeping more students on task in class; in the past when a student didn’t have their textbook or workbook, they would have to share with someone or just listen as the class went over problems, with the SmartBoard, I can not only project the book on the screen, but we are also able to write on and work problems directly on the textbook page. This is especially important in Geometry where figures are often used and referenced for several problems. My students have become more alert and more willing to learn with the introduction of the SmartBoard, and they have enjoyed several laughs at my expense when the new technology does not always cooperate with the teacher!”

As part of the Hugh Lloyd Award, Thorn will receive a $1,000 grant for additional materials for her classroom this fall.

A trophy was awarded to the school that raised the most money during SchoolFest this past May. In what has become something of a rivalry, US Jones Elementary captured the trophy back from Demopolis Middle School. SchoolFest activities raised just under $20,000 this year for the Foundation.