Students don’t sit still in Kerianne Smead’s classroom at Morgantown High School, and she doesn’t either.
That’s by design.
Her charges are constantly on their feet, engaging with the interactive lesson plans set up by the math educator, who has long been lauded for her prowess in the subject that scores of people automatically say they hate.
And she’s constantly in motion, also, lighting from desk to desk – to make the learning, well, fun.
“They deserve my best,” she’ll say of that effort.
Now, she’s considered to be among the nation’s best among teachers in her field.
Smead last week was recognized with a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, which annually honors educators from across the U.S. for their work.
She joined 336 fellow teachers and mentors named by the organization, a field including fellow West Virginia educators, as well.
Also recognized from the Mountain State were: Aileen Adkins, a science teacher at Moorefield Middle School in Hardy County; Renee Haines, who teaches biology at Martinsburg High in Berkeley County; and Adam Rizzi, a math and computer science instructor at Cabell Midland High in Ona, Cabell County.
“Each of them brings a unique perspective,” State Schools Superintendent Michele Blatt said.
“It is an honor for these West Virginia educators to be recognized nationally for their exceptional practices and dedication to their students, colleagues and communities,” the superintendent continued.
Meanwhile, Smead, who was also named West Virginia’s Mathematics Secondary Teacher of the Year for 2024, has bridged many classrooms and communities in a career launched 12 years ago.
She previously taught at Fairmont Senior High School, Preston High and Greenbrier East High.
Smead regularly presents at teacher workshops across the state and is a Mountaineer Mathematics Master Teacher Fellow, which is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
More than 5,000 educators have been recognized with the presidential teacher award since the program’s inception in 1983.
