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ECHS teacher selected as
Teacher of Excellence
Rosemary Adams, a special education teacher at East Carteret High School, was selected as Carteret County's Exceptional Children Teacher of Excellence. Ms. Adams will be honored at the 53rd Conference on Exceptional Children, which takes place October 27-29 in Greensboro. The theme of the conference will be "...Together We Can Do So Much", a quote from Helen Keller. She will also be honored at the Carteret County Board of Education's November 12, 2003, meeting. During the conference, each "Teacher of Excellence" selected by school systems from across the state will be honored. Each honoree will receive free registration for the conference and a certificate and gift from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Ms. Adams was nominated for the award by Principal Ralph Holloway. "Even though she has only been at our school for a short time, Ms. Adams has made a tremendous impact on our students and staff," he said. "Throughout her career, Ms. Adams has been recognized as an outstanding educator." A native of Carteret County, Ms. Adams graduated from West Carteret High School and holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from East Carolina University. She first taught school in Virginia. "While teaching in Virginia I had a second grade student who had Down's syndrome and I was challenged by him," Ms. Adams said. "I then moved to Cumberland County and they had a special education position open. I thought about that little boy and it just fell in my lap. I knew that teaching special education was what I needed to do." While in Cumberland County, she taught trainable mentally disabled middle school students for four years and obtained certification in mental disabilities education from Fayetteville State University. "In my heart I know teaching special education is the right career for me," Ms. Adams said. "My first class included six severe and profoundly disabled students and six trainable mentally disabled students. Even with those varying disabilities I had success. "Special education is a challenge, however I love the kids," she continued. "When I see a student learn it provides an inner reward that can't be described. I truly appreciate their struggle to learn." The daughter of Sylvia Adams of Cape Carteret, Ms. Adams joined the staff at East Carteret High School two years ago. Carteret County Public School System's Exceptional Childrens' Director Pollye Pruitt noted that while in Cumberland County Ms. Adams was named Teacher of the Month twice and helped train teachers on the use of alternate assessments for students with mental disabilities. An example of Ms. Adams determination was given by Ms. Pruitt. She noted that Ms. Adams began tutoring a senior during the second semester. This student had not passed the reading proficiency test. Ms. Adams tutored him every day during school and after school for three months, and the student increased his reading level by five grades, passed the reading test and graduated on time with his classmates. "Many special education teachers go above and beyond the call of duty on a daily basis, but to help a struggling senior increase his reading skills by five grades in such a short length of time is phenomenal." Ms. Pruitt also noted that during that same time, Ms. Adams also voluntarily tutored a parent of a student. |
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