Penny Ferguson & Mark White
Maryville High School
Maryville, TN

"Among the greatest gifts I can give my students are the tools to succeed in whatever academic environment they encounter. They must be able to use both written and oral English effectively and to master listening, reading, and thinking skills. With these competencies they can develop the joy of learning, the delight of discovery, and the strategies of problem solving."

"An anonymous author once wrote, 'The secret of success is to do the common things uncommonly well.' The teachers that I am recommending for this award are the finest teachers I know--the Maryville High School dynamic duo of Dr. Penny Ferguson and Mr. Mark White. Their standards of 'doing things uncommonly well' are displayed in their numerous awards, in their participation in the community and school, and in their daily lives. The students and faculty at Maryville High School have been blessed with two outstanding teachers who love working with young people and who are truly gifted in helping them achieve their goals. Not a single day passes that I do not use something I learned from Dr. Ferguson and Mr. White, and I am very fortunate to have had them as my teachers.

Three interdisciplinary projects entitled the Multimedia Decade Museum Project, the Family History Project, and the Hollywood, or Is It History Project unite Penny and Mark's classes. These projects employ a variety of teaching strategies that meet or exceed state standards. "Our students have participated in simulations, Socratic Seminars, cooperative learning activities, student presentations, and long- and short-term projects. They have analyzed and created political cartoons and studied artifacts. They have also been encouraged to approach presentations in imaginative ways: to wear costumes and use drama, comedy, and role-playing to engage their listeners," says Penny. By using an interdisciplinary approach, Penny and Mark provide an environment where expectations are clear, familiar, and valid for both classes.

Other Highlights - Mark's Honors/Awards:

• Outstanding Social Studies Teacher Award from the Tennessee Council for the Social Studies, 2001
• Outstanding Teacher of the Humanities from the Tennessee Humanities Council, 2002
• Co-coach of the Maryville High School Mock Trial Team: District Competition, 2002 Champions 1999, 2000, 2002

Other Highlights - Penny's Honors/Awards:

• English Department Chair
• Sponsor of the National Honor Society and the Maryville Scholars
• 2002 National High School Teacher of Excellence Award from the National Council of Teachers of English
• 2001 Time Magazine/ Chevy Malibu Teacher of Excellence Award-one of 25 regional winners in the United States
• Graduate of Knoxville Leadership Education Class, a year-long community involvement education seminar, 2001
• "Good Neighbor Teaching Award" from the National Council of Teachers of English and State Farm--1 of 8 English teachers recognized nationally, 1996
• Adjunct faculty member in the student teaching preparation program at Maryville College since 1991
• Member of Language Arts Advisory Board for the State Department of Education since 1993
• Writing Instructor and Core Team Leader at the Governor's Academy for Teachers of Writing (1996-1997)
• "Award for Excellence in the Teaching of English Language Arts" from the Tennessee Council of Teachers of English," 1996
• Eight articles published in the Tennessee English Journal