Local Teacher Recognized by State
Mrs. Jean Masdonati was recognized on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 as one of six finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching representing South Carolina during the South Carolina Board of Education Meeting. Three Math teachers and three Science teachers were named finalists for South Carolina and are now vying for the National recognition where one Math and one Science Teacher will be named to represent South Carolina nationally. Sixty finalists were named from around the nation and we are proud to have one of our very own named as a finalist!
As a Mathematics teacher since 1973, Mrs. Masdonati has had the opportunity to enhance the lives of students through engaging and rigorous lessons in Math. Mrs. Masdonati is a master of her craft and has the ability to meet students where they are and grow them to the levels needed to experience success. Mrs. Masdonati’s classroom has bell-to-bell instruction daily. Her stamina and enthusiasm for teaching is shared daily in her lesson. Her zest for continual learning is transferred to her students as she utilizes current technology and best practices to engage students cooperatively in the learning process. Mrs. Masdonati makes cross-curricular connections between math and other content areas while ensuring that students apply mathematics to solve real-world problems.
Mrs. Masdonati is Gifted and Talented Endorsed, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Certified, and has her National Board Certification. Mrs. Masdonati currently teaches our Dual Enrollment Math Courses, MAT 140 and MAT 141, our Advanced Placement Calculus AB and BC, and various Algebra courses as needed. Mrs. Masdonati makes herself available before school, during lunch, afterschool, and on weekends to help her students. Mrs. Masdonati also shares her knowledge with her colleagues during Professional Learning Community Meetings and during Faculty Meetings to help other educators grow too. Mrs. Masdonati is involved on campus outside of the classroom and helps with school programs such as the FCHS Pageant.
Mrs. Masdonati is a dynamic teacher. She has been teaching for over 40 years and constantly strives to stay current and abreast of the latest trends to ensure she understands and prepares her students for academic success. The national announcement is scheduled to happen in the Fall.