February 15, 2006

Columbus State Universitys College of Education will host a Feb. 20-22 visit to Columbus by National Teacher of the Year Jason Kamras.

Kamras, who teaches mathematics at John Philip Sousa Middle School in Washington, will give a public lecture at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22 in Columbus State Universitys Elizabeth Bradley Turner Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Kamras visit will mark the 17th straight year that CSUs College of Education will host the National Teacher of the Year. On Tuesday, Feb. 21, Kamras will tour CSUs College of Education and participate in a series of activities with the Muscogee County School District, Fort Benning Department of Defense Schools and Phi Delta Kappa honor society.

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, Kamras will attend a breakfast with CSU student teachers and give a brief presentation before the public lecture. Kamras will conclude the day and his visit to Columbus with lunch and a presentation to the Downtown Rotary Club.

Kamras is the first National Teacher of the Year to represent the District of Columbia. According to the Council of Chief State School Officers, which oversees the National Teacher of the Year program, Kamras has worked diligently for eight years, raising the bar for students and redesigning a curriculum to emphasize the increasing use of technology.

Among his efforts, Kamras directs the EXPOSE program, which teaches students to use digital cameras, as well as image editing and DVD-creation software. Through the program he co-founded in 1999, students create photo essays of their lives and communities that are shared within the region at public exhibits. Over the past four years, Kamras has received approximately $65,000 in grants for this program and was awarded the 2001 Mayors Art Award for Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education.

Tina Butcher, interim dean of CSUs College of Education, said the annual visit by the teacher of the year provides an opportunity for the faculty, staff and students of CSU to interact with a prominent figure in the field of education. The teacher of the year is a wonderful role model who embodies excellence in teaching, scholarship and professionalism, said Butcher. The visit is always an inspiring and motivational event for the faculty, staff and students at CSU, as well as for educators in our region.

For more information, call 706-568-2212.