RADFORD -- Radford University graduate Tamatha Farrell received one of two McGlothlin Awards for Teaching Excellence presented last night at the 2008 McGlothlin Awards ceremony in RU’s Bondurant Auditorium, Preston Hall. Farrell, who graduated from RU in 1995 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies, teaches in Roanoke County’s Burlington Elementary School. A 10-year teaching veteran, she is known for getting at-risk students to love reading and learning.

Farrell received $25,000 from the McGlothlin Foundation of Bristol, with the stipulation that she use at least $10,000 for international travel. She plans to travel to England, the homeland of Roald Dahl, her favorite children’s author, whose book James and the Giant Peach is a major part of her students’ year.

Tracy Easterling of Vance Middle School in Bristol, Tenn., won the 2008 McGlothlin Award for grades 6-12. Easterling, a seventh grade math teacher, impressed McGlothlin Award judges with her ability to create opportunities for her students to see how much they will use math in everyday situations. She plans to visit Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and England.

Four McGlothlin finalists were each presented with a trophy and a check for $1,000. Finalists for grades 6-12 were Susan Montgomery, The Gereau Center, Franklin County Public Schools, and Stephanie Doyle, Breckinridge Middle School, Roanoke City Public Schools. Finalists for grades K-5  were Michele Quesenberry, Colonial Elementary School, Botetourt County Public Schools, and Dawn Toole, Patrick Henry Elementary School, Martinsville City Public Schools.

Two other RU graduates were named among 18 semi-finalists for the awards. J. Vincent Groseclose, who earned a bachelor’s degree in special education in 1979 and a master’s degree in preschool education in 1983, teaches at Marion Intermediate School in Smyth County. Rhonda McDonald, who received an RU master’s degree in reading in 1984, teaches at Eagle Rock Elementary School in Botetourt County.

The McGlothlin Awards for Teaching Excellence are among the largest teaching awards in the nation and are available only to educators in this region. Each year two award winners receive $25,000 each, with the stipulation that $10,000 must be used, within a year, for international travel and/or study to broaden the thinking and experience of the winning teachers and further enhance their excellence as professional educators. According to Thomas D. McGlothlin, president of the McGlothlin Foundation, “The McGlothlin Foundation wishes to inspire the award recipients so that they can breathe new life into their classrooms, their peers, and indeed the entire school.”

The McGlothlin Awards program, now in its ninth year, is administered by Blue Ridge PBS. Since 2002, RU’s College of Education and Human Development has collaborated with Blue Ridge PBS and the McGlothlin Foundation to host the McGlothlin Celebration of Teaching and the McGlothlin Awards ceremony.