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Former GSSM Instructor Receives Teaching Award from the College of Charleston

July 25, 2008

The School of Sciences and Mathematics at the College of Charleston presented Dr. Nancy Long with the college’s P-12 Teacher Recognition Award.

During the school’s award ceremonies on graduation weekend, Long was given a plaque and cash prize in her honor.

She was nominated for the award by Kathryn Pedings, a graduating senior majoring in mathematics and secondary education. Pedings graduated from the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics in 2004 and was one of Long’s math students.

In her nomination for Long, Pedings wrote how Long continually pushed her to “always strive to become a better mathematician.” It was Long’s teaching that eventually convinced Pedings to pursue mathematics at the College of Charleston. When Pedings begins her teaching career, she hopes to have the same kind of impact on her students that Long had on her. It is Peding’s goal to turn her students into “life-long lovers of mathematics” the same way Long fostered that love in her.

Long has been a high school and college math teacher since 1968. Most recently she has been an instructor at GSSM, where she taught for seven years. Although she is currently semi-retired, she still teaches GSSM courses during the summer and winter terms. In addition, this fall Long and her husband, with whom she sometimes team teaches, will be visiting assistant professors at Coker College.

This is the third year for the College of Charleston Teacher Recognition Award. Senior students at the college were invited to nominate inspirational teachers who played an important role in their lives. Elise Jorgens, provost of the college, explains “Devoted elementary and secondary school teachers often receive little recognition for their efforts, and students have too few chances to reward them.”

The other 2008 recipients were Richard Bracknell from Carrollton High School in Carrollton, GA.; Lily Baumil from South Aiken High School in Aiken, SC; Linda Farnsley from Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, TN; and Lisa Dougherty from Hillendale Elementary School in Chadds Ford, PA.

For more information on the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, please contact Jacqulyne Pouncey at the GSSM Foundation.