Humanities Texas announced that Angie Greenlaw of Flower Mound High School’s 9th Grade Campus is one of twelve recipients of the 2016 Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award.
State Senator Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, and Humanities Texas executive director Michael L. Gillette presented Greenlaw with her award during a special ceremony at the 9th grade campus on Friday, Dec. 9.
Greenlaw is set to receive a $5,000 cash award, with an additional $500 for her school to purchase instructional materials.
Humanities Texas presents annual statewide awards to encourage excellence in teaching and recognize Texas classroom teachers who have made exemplary contributions in teaching, curriculum development and extracurricular programming. The organization received over 700 nominations for the 2016 awards.
Greenlaw teaches English and humanities and chartered the school’s chapter of the English Honor Society. In 2015, she was named Teacher of the Year.
“Mrs. Greenlaw exemplifies what it means to be a master teacher, possessing the skills necessary to deliver lessons at a very high level and also the heart to impact a child’s life in ways that will be remembered long after the student has graced the hallways,” said Flower Mound Ninth Grade Campus principal Will Skelton. “She has an innate ability to capture what is most important in the lives of her students, and to connect that to the curriculum in a way that motivates the students to learn.”
Greenlaw has been integral in bringing several innovations to her campus, most notably the Genius Hour program. As part of this nationally-recognized program, teachers set aside an hour of instruction time every two weeks for students to work on individual passion projects. Students choose a topic, prepare proposals, give pitches and conduct research both in and out of class.
At the end of the year, students present their findings during a Genius Hour Showcase, with chosen finalists receiving awards. Through programs like Genius Hour, Greenlaw fosters students’ inherent creativity and enthusiasm for learning and connecting with the world around them.
“My favorite lessons involve project-based learning,” said Greenlaw. “However, no matter what type of learning style I’m employing on a given lesson, my priority is guiding students in connecting the lesson to real world scenarios, so they can see the immediate value in what they are learning.”
“As a former teacher, I am always impressed with educators like Mrs. Greenlaw who inspire students to reach new heights,” said Senator Jane Nelson. “She demonstrates a commitment to success. I commend her for making her classroom a place where ideas flourish.”
“Humanities Texas is pleased to recognize the achievements of Angie Greenlaw and Flower Mound High School Ninth Grade Campus,” said Humanities Texas Executive Director Michael L. Gillette. “Mrs. Greenlaw inspires and motivates her students to succeed in the classroom and beyond.”
Humanities Texas is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Its mission is to advance education through programs that improve the quality of classroom teaching, support libraries and museums and create opportunities for lifelong learning for all Texans.
Humanities Texas is currently accepting nominations for the 2017 Outstanding Teaching Awards. Additional information about Humanities Texas and its teacher award program is available at www.humanitiestexas.org.
See more photos from the award ceremony on the Flower Mound 9th Grade Campus Facebook page here.
