PEARCY -- Learning company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt recently named Lake Hamilton Middle School Math 180 paraprofessional Dianne Booth as one of only five national winners of this year's 180 Educator Awards.
According to HMH's website, the 180 Educator Awards "recognize exceptional teachers who have proven that it is never too late to turn around the academic path for struggling students to help them achieve success. Nominated by their colleagues and peers, these teachers have an unwavering dedication to their students, helping them overcome both personal and academic obstacles."
Math 180 is an intervention program in schools that uses adaptive technology to create personalized student instruction and accelerate growth in mathematics.
"It is a program that we brought to Lake Hamilton because Angie (Gray) saw that students were struggling with some of the math facts and math strategies. We brought it in, and it has helped them get the foundation so they understand why fractions work, why percentages make sense to them. It explains why, so when they go to their math class, it's like, 'Oh, OK. Now it makes sense to me.' It gives them that basic foundation, so when they do go into class, they have that foundation where they had missed it previously," Booth said.
The Dallas native graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. She has lived in Hot Springs for over 27 years, worked for the Lake Hamilton School District for 13 and a half years, and been a Math 180 instructor at the middle school four years.
Booth and her husband, John, have two children, Preston and Claire, who are both Lake Hamilton graduates.
Booth is the only national Math 180 Educator honored this year, and the first in Lake Hamilton School District's history to garner a 180 Educators Award.
The other 180 Educator Awards winners are instructors of a similar program that focuses on literacy skills, Reading 180. They are from Washington, Texas, New Jersey and Florida.
As a winner of one of the 13th annual 180 Educator of the Year awards, Booth will receive an all expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the 2019 Model Schools Conference in June, where she will be honored at an awards ceremony along with the other winners.
She will also receive a selection of HMH books for her classroom to benefit her 60-70 students, which will be math focused and appropriate for a middle school reading level.
While in the nation's capital, she must attend several meetings during the conference, but will have plenty of time to enjoy the city.
In order to qualify for the Math 180 Educator of the Year award, a letter of recommendation and nomination was required. Lake Hamilton 6-12 grade math facilitator Gray fulfilled this condition and wrote a letter for Booth.
Booth also had to provide information on innovative efforts to foster both personal and academic growth in students and a three to four minute video that displayed class rigor, innovation and student success, and included demonstrating classroom participation, positive reinforcement situations, classmate support and mentoring, student achievement acknowledgment, student testimony and technology in the classroom.
These are aspects of Booth's class that take place each and every day, she said.
"I get to make it exciting, and I get to make it fun. I believe in rewards. I have an achievement wall, and we make a big deal out of achievements. The whole class claps, because I just think that these kids at this age are trying to find themselves. So they need this pat on the back. A lot of them do not get that pat on the back at home. There are some that just break your heart. I invite them in for lunch and we work one on one. They can come in before school, too. They just need that extra one on one time that they sometimes do not receive elsewhere," Booth said.
She also helps students see practical, real world applications for math.
"Because I've worked in advertising before, I can talk to the kids and explain to them why math is so important: because of bonuses, salaries and expenses. It's just nice to be able to relate my business experience to them and make it exciting for them."
When Booth learned she had been selected as a winner, she said she was "shocked and excited."
"Mrs. Gray is just an amazing mentor, and so I have to give her a lot of the credit. The training that I have received is just wonderful. The administration has supported us. When we need something, we get it. And it shows."
Booth sees winning the award as not only recognition for her efforts, but her students' efforts, as well.
"It's not just me that won this. It's their hard work. I can get them started and can explain, but they're the ones that have done it. Here, it's a team. I'm not an 'I' person. It's a 'we.'"
The program has shown great success, and Booth said seeing students who have benefited from it are what makes all her work worthwhile.
"I just love Math 180. I'm seeing kids that have graduated now, and it's so fun when they come and hug your neck. That is rewarding. That just keeps me going. Just like the MasterCard, it's priceless. It just means the world," Booth said.
Local on 05/31/2019