CRESTVIEW — Unlike in the TV commercials, none of the recipients of the first Hsu Family Foundation robotics teaching excellence awards announced they’re going to Disney World with their $1,000 prize money.
In fact, most of the five elementary and middle school robotics teachers said they’ll pour the bulk, if not all, of their award into their classrooms.
Winners were Laurie Allen, Shoal River Middle School; Stacy Burlison, Baker School; Dottie Hollan, Bob Sikes Elementary School; Joan Mitchell, Laurel Hill School; and Tim Sexton, Davidson Middle School.
Principals, family members, educators and civic leaders gathered in the Florida A&M University Sen. Durell Peaden Jr. Education Center on Sept. 22 to applaud the teachers’ recognition.
START THEM YOUNG
Okaloosa County entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. Paul Hsu created the award to complement his $5,000 STEM—science, technology, engineering and math—high school-level prize.
Both prizes are administered through the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce Teaching Excellence Awards in Math and Science—TEAMS—committee.
Hsu’s representative Dennis Mitchell, Crestview Technology Air Park project executive and TEAMS chairman, said research shows that when students begin to study robotics at a young age, they are more likely to continue their interest in the subject. Recognizing and encouraging robotics teaching excellence will help further local programs at the elementary and middle school levels, he said.
'A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE'
“It takes a lot of knowledge in that field to teach that sort of thing,” Shoal River Middle School Principal Gary Massey said. “You have to be willing to take chances, too.”
Allen said winning the prize was well timed.
“It’s our 27th anniversary, so we’ll be going to a nice dinner. And paying bills: We are teachers,” she said of herself and her husband, John Allen.
“Mine’s going into my classroom,” Bob Sikes Elementary School teacher Dottie Hollan said.
Joan Mitchell, Dennis’ wife, had a similar idea.
“I’m going to make Dennis pay the taxes and I’m spending it all on my kids,” she said, referring to her students.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: ‘I’m spending it on my kids’