House Concurrent Resolution 79

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MRS. MILLICENT "MANDY" GUNTER OF BAYOU VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI, FOR RECEIVING MISSISSIPPI'S 2020 PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHING.

WHEREAS, Mrs. Millicent "Mandy" Gunter is one of two Mississippi teachers who earned national recognition as recipients of the 2020 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST); and

WHEREAS, established in 1983, PAEMST is the highest award kindergarten through 12th grade mathematics and science (including computer science) teachers can receive from the United States government, and each year, the award criteria alternates years between kindergarten through sixth grade and seventh through 12th grade teachers, and this year, kindergarten through sixth grade teachers received the awards; and

WHEREAS, over the years, PAEMST award recipients represent schools and organizations from all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools, and the U.S. territories; and

WHEREAS, PAEMST nominees complete a rigorous application process that allows them to demonstrate deep content knowledge and their ability to adapt to a broad range of learners and teaching environments, and a panel of distinguished mathematicians, scientists and educators at the state and national levels assess the applications before recommending nominees to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), then teachers are selected based on their distinction in the classroom and dedication to improving STEM education; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Gunter has been an educator for more than 30 years, and has spent the last 18 years teaching in the Gulfport School District, and she is currently teaching all subjects in third grade at Bayou View Elementary School, and prior to joining Bayou View, taught at Westminster Academy for ten years and Diamondhead Academy for the first two years of her teaching career; and

WHEREAS, in her classroom, Mrs. Gunter challenges students to explore problem-based mathematics, motivates students to become problem solvers, incorporates real-world scenarios and implements mathematical discourse to promote deeper student thinking, and her classroom is an active learning environment where technology is incorporated into her daily lessons; and

WHEREAS, in addition to teaching third grade, Mrs. Gunter also serves as the K-5 mathematics coach, and as a lead teacher, she facilitates professional development for teachers, continues to build a site level collaborative mathematics team, mentors student teachers, monitors site level mathematics programs, plans activities to celebrate student success and orchestrates family math night; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Gunter has served on several district and state committees, and she has been able to implement programs and enhance curriculum from the knowledge gained from the numerous national conferences she has attended, including: NCTM, Model Schools, the Ron Clark Academy and Staff Development for Educators; and

WHEREAS, dedicated to academic excellence, Mrs. Gunter is a 1984 graduate of Saint John High School in Gulfport, and she earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1990, and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Mississippi College in 2020, and she also has a highly qualified status in mathematics from Mississippi State University; and

WHEREAS, for excellence in education, Mrs. Gunter received the Hannah Hatfield award for 2006, and she received Teacher of the Year in 2000, 2004, 2011, and 2016; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Gunter is married to her loving husband of 30 years, Mr. Edward Gunter, and they have a daughter, Haley Gunter, who is also a teacher in the Gulfport School District, and in her spare time she enjoys walking and gardening and is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Gulfport; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Gunter stated, "Being named a finalist for the Presidential Award has been a truly humbling experience. I am extremely grateful for teachers and colleagues who have mentored and encouraged me throughout my journey of teaching. This award recognizes my commitment to providing the best mathematics instruction I can for my students, and it is rewarding to know that I have had an impact on their success. This award inspires me to continue to search for best practices in education and implement them with intention."; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend outstanding Mississippi teachers, especially those such as Mrs. Gunter, whose dedication to her students brings great honor to Bayou View Elementary School, the Gulfport School District and the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mrs. Millicent "Mandy" Gunter of Bayou View Elementary School in Gulfport, Mississippi, for receiving Mississippi's 2020 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, and extend to her our best wishes for continued excellence in education.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mrs. Millicent "Mandy" Gunter, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.