Cindy Fitch, 5th grade, Stockton Elementary School

Mai Keisling, Art, Paxon School for Advanced Studies

Ben MacKay, History, Stanton College Preparatory School

Maria Perez Randle, Math, Bishop Kenny High School

Mr. Gilchrist Berg, established the Gladys Prior Awards for Career Teaching Excellence in 1998 to honor Gladys Prior his fourth grade teacher at Ortega Elementary School. In 2008, Mr. Berg will give four teachers $15,000 each to use as they wish. Mr. Berg, the founder and president of Water Street Capital, a Jacksonville investment firm, has entrusted the UNF College of Education and Human Services with the administration of these awards which are among the most generous in the United States.

2007 Winner Profiles

Cindy Fitch has been a teacher for 34 years. A parent volunteer at Stockton Elementary said Ms. Fitch “assures every child that she values who they are and that it is safe for them to ask questions, to try something new, or to not understand.” She uses careful assessment, solid teaching principles, and humor to ensure that students master math. Each year her students score among the highest in Duval County on the math FCAT.

Mai Dinh Keisling, has been a teacher for 15 years. Although she teaches art teacher at Paxon School for Advanced Studies, one student said that she goes out of her way to help students who struggle in calculus, pre-calculus and physics. Ms. Keisling inspired a University of Michigan art history major to think out of the box and believe that if you want something hard enough, you can get it because nothing is impossible. Mrs. Keisling learned this the hard way when she was teenager escaping with her siblings from Vietnam on an overloaded boat in the dark of night.

Ben MacKay teaches history at Stanton College Preparatory School. A student at Davidson College said that Mr. Mackay’s charisma and passion changed the course of his academic career, opening his eyes to the liberal arts. “I learned more in his two history classes that the rest of my high school combined.” A parent-volunteer said, “One of the priceless lessons that my son learned from Mr. MacKay was his example of helping others and putting that in front of your own personal financial gain.”

Maria Perez Randle has taught math at Bishop Kenny High School for thirty-six years. She consistently prepares her students to earn high scores on the Advanced Placement calculus test. Students return year after year to thank her for their excellent preparation in math. A student said, “She won’t stop until you know it. She doesn’t move on until we all understand.” Another said, “Her enthusiasm is contagious and inspires me to do my best work.”

Previous Gladys Prior Award winners:

2006: Janet Coburn, Patrick Nolan, Jacqueline Simms, Gregory Whaley

2005: Timothy Clark, Dan Hall, Margie Nolan, Nancy Lotowycz

2004: Clifford Buggs, Lisa Crosby, Denise Rambach, Michael Tetlow

2003: Donna Hamm, Marilyn Olin, Elizabeth Renfroe, Jan Tipton

2002: William Babcock, Jane Feber, Sandra McCoy, Beverly McMillan

2001: Carmen Adkins, Marie Girardeau, Carol McQueen, Carroll Stevenson

2000: Janet Hall, Kenneth Hatcher, Norma Hedgecoth, Susan Tucker

1999: Edward M. Lange, Susan Piltz, Laura Pratt, Victoria S. Register-Freeman

1998: Mary Alice Fryar, Terri J. Largen, Marcia Kay Rivas, Mary Helen Solomon

Call for Nominations: January, 2008

Nominations for the 2008 Gladys Prior Awards for Career Teaching Excellence are now being accepted.  Teachers are nominated by letters that describe how they inspire students to learn though excellent teaching. The two criteria for selection are sustained teaching excellence and sustained inspiration of students. Teachers must have at least ten years of teaching experience and currently be teaching in a Jacksonville public or private school. Teachers may be nominated by colleagues, administrators, parents, students or community members. Teachers may not nominate themselves. Nomination letters are due by 5:00 P.M. March 21, 2008 in the Dean's Office.

If you have questions about the Gladys Prior Awards, please contact Patti Robbins at probbins@unf.edu or 620-1799.