Melissa Collins, a second grade teacher at John P. Freeman Optional School, has been announced as a recipient of the 2015 Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award. Collins is one of 13 teachers nationwide to receive this prestigious award that recognizes teachers for their “extraordinary impact on the lives of students.”
In addition to receiving the Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award, Collins will also receive a $10,000 grant.
Recently, Collins also made national news for being recognized by the White House. She along with her second grade students entered a White House Student Film Festival. Their short film, "
How Giving Goes Viral," was one of more than 1,500 entries submitted in the year's competition.
In their video, students highlight their time spent making an impact in their community and around the city, including working with local business leaders, carrying on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and donating gifts to patients at St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Awards for the 2015 student festival were announced by President Obama and the White House on March 20. Winning videos can be screened on the White House official YouTube page.
On the heels of these successes, comes a story about Magic Johnson visiting Booker T. Washington High School today. Why? Read the full story from the
Memphis Daily News.
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