For just over two decades, Mary Hawkins-Jones has dedicated herself to encouraging young students, infusing them with hope and encouraging them to set goals for themselves. That devotion has paid off for the fifth-grade teacher at Westover Elementary School in Silver Spring with her selection as the first “Most Hopeful Teacher in America.”
The award, presented by Gallup, Inc. and Atria Books, was created to honor a full-time, effective classroom teacher who was best at creating a contagion of hope in his/her school. Gallup and Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., contacted principals at each of the 172 Gallup High-Hope Schools and asked them to submit a nomination.
In a prepared statement, County Executive Ike Leggett congratulated Mrs. Hawkins-Jones, saying, “This outstanding honor reflects her vision and ability to instill in her students the importance of setting life-long goals…Her remarkable achievements give us all hope for a better and brighter future.”
Read more about the award and Mary Hawkins-Jones and the selection process.
Watch the video of her award-winning career.
