Carrie Persing

Carrie Persing has been teaching mathematics and language arts in elementary and middle schools for 14 years, including six years in high-poverty, high-minority schools. At the time of the award, she was a mathematics specialist for kindergarten through fifth grade at Harrowgate Elementary School in the Chesterfield County School System, and she continues to work with these students through a morning enrichment program. She also cotaught a fourth grade special education class. Ms. Persing is currently a mathematics educator for MathScience Innovation Center, which works with a consortium of districts in central Virginia to provide innovative programs and futuristic topics in both mathematics and science to K-12 educators and students.

Mrs. Persing creates a stable learning environment where students are inspired to think, discover, and succeed. She celebrates students' successes by displaying their work throughout the school. She designed a mathematics resource room where teachers can access manipulatives, conceptual lessons, resource books, and children's literature. For parents, grandparents, and guardians, she helped develop mathematics dictionaries in English and Spanish for kindergarten through second grade and third through fifth grade that connect key mathematical concepts to vocabulary and pictures.

Struggling students receive targeted assistance from Mrs. Persing, who assesses their understanding and needs. Both her teaching results and teaching abilities are praised as remarkable. Students benefit tremendously, and it shows in their performance, which improves every quarter. Parents acknowledged how Mrs. Persing improves children's attitudes toward mathematics and builds their self-esteem.

Mrs. Persing is considered a leader of teachers, providing professional development at county and State levels for both elementary and middle schools. She focuses on modeling and providing effective instructional strategies that engage students in the development and application of mathematical concepts. She is sharing with teachers in the greater Richmond area her format and planning designs for a successful family night, a workshop that provides parents and grandparents with hands-on experience in the learning process.

A member of both the Virginia and National Councils of Teachers of Mathematics, Mrs. Persing also serves as corresponding secretary for the Greater Richmond Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Mrs. Persing has a B.S. in elementary education from D'Youville College and master of interdisciplinary studies from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has Virginia Collegiate Professional Licenses in pre-kindergarten through third grade early/primary education and third through sixth grade elementary education.