ISD Science Teacher to Be Honored at White House

May 24, 04:02 PM

Current Headlines: By BUFORD GREEN STAFF WRITER

JACKSONVILLE - Sheryl Humphries' love of science and teaching it has landed her among an elite group of educators.

Humphries, who has taught junior high school science at Illinois School for the Deaf for 11 years, is in Washington this week to be honored as science teacher of the year in Illinois, part of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching program.

She is among 93 recipients of the award from around the country. A teacher from the Chicago area received the Illinois math award.

"We were notified of this May 1 through an e-mail, and I was overwhelmed and totally shocked," Humphries said from her Washington hotel room Thursday afternoon. "I never expected something like this in my life."

Fellow ISD teacher Judy Williams nominated Humphries, citing her for making science a main priority for ISD students with hand-on activities and making the subject understandable while integrating reading and language into the science field.

"I have always had an interest in science, because it is so activity-oriented and a lot of fun," said Humphries.

Humphries, 40, is a graduate of Zion-Benton High School and Northern Illinois University. She was a finalist for Illinois Teacher of the Year in voting done through the State Board of Education last year.

"Friday is one of the big days of my life," Humphries said Thursday. "We will meet for a VIP tour at the White House and have a group photograph taken with President Bush. I met Barack Obama and Congressman Ray LaHood today."

Humphries will receive $10,000 for her honor. She said she plans to use that to "travel a little, use some in my classroom, and help get out of debt."

In presenting the award, the president said in a citation the recipients were being honored "for embodying excellence in teaching, for devotion to the learning needs of the students and for upholding the high standards that exemplify American education at its finest."

The National Science Foundation administers the awards program on behalf of the White House, with the honor including an expense-paid trip to Washington for a week of celebratory events and professional- development activities.

The program was established by Congress in 1983 to identify highly qualified math and science teachers. This year's recipients were recommended by a panel of leading mathematicians, scientists and educators.

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