Local teacher recognized

Central High School math teacher Rebecca Darby has won the 2007 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the nation's highest honor for teaching in those subjects.

Darby was the only math winner from Alabama and was one of 99 teachers nationwide to receive the award.

As a recipient of the award, Darby received $10,000 from the National Science Foundation, the federal agency that administers the program. Darby also receives a trip for two to Washington, D.C., for a week of celebratory events and professional development activities.

This year's recipients were recommended for the award by a panel of leading mathematicians, scientists and educators. They all teach in grades seven through 12. Darby, who has been teaching math for 21 years, said the award is humbling.

"I honestly enjoy what I do and working with kids," she said. "I don't know that I have any big secret for teaching, but I try to keep the kids' attitudes about math good and relate math to them in a way they understand. Most aspects of math aren't nearly as hard as the kids think they are."

And Darby has a theory about students who have a defeatist attitude regarding their math skills.

"So many kids are down on themselves because they think they can't do math when really they just got lost somewhere along the way. It snowballed from there," she said. "Those are the kids who really challenge me as a teacher, and it's extremely gratifying to show them that they can do it."

In a citation from President Bush, Darby is praised for "embodying excellence in teaching, for devotion to the learning needs of the students and for upholding the high standards that exemplify American education at its finest."

Lauderdale County Superintendent Bill Valentine called the award an honor and tribute to Darby and her teaching skills as well as her dedication.

"It also brings honor to our school system to have someone of her caliber teaching here," he said.

Established by Congress in 1983, the presidential awards program annually identifies highly qualified mathematics and science teachers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories and in the U.S. Department of Defense schools.

Lisa Singleton-Rickman can be reached at 740-5735 or lisa.singleton-rickman@timesdaily.com.