Cable in the Classroom Honors Top Educators in the Nation’s Capital

Cable in the Classroom, the cable industry’s education foundation has announced their 2008 Leaders in Learning Award winners.  This year’s winners will be honored at a Gala and awards ceremony at the Library of Congress on June 18, 2008 in the nation’s capital. While they are in Washington, D.C., they will learn from fellow awardees, attend cable network tours and screenings, and meet with members of Congress and cable and education leaders. In addition to the trip to Washington, D.C., honorees receive a $3,000 cash prize from Cable in the Classroom.

Award winner Dr. Cheryl Seals is a district administrator in Okaloosa County School District (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.). Dr. Seals created the Academic Excellence Society (AES), to help address the minority student achievement gap. AES connects members of the school district, local churches, parents and civic leaders to foster a program for educational excellence in Okaloosa County.  Since its inception, AES has hosted an educational summit, created a local “Summer Bridge” program, and launched a mentor telethon. Since the telethon, 323 mentors have been recruited to work with at-risk students.  Through AES, teachers have learned how to analyze and interpret minority student data in order to identify effective strategies to encourage academic achievement.

Rasheda Workman is a teacher at Sunshine High School in Newbern, Ala.  Born and raised in a remote region of Alabama known as the “Black Belt,” RaSheda Workman has developed a solid reputation as a passionate advocate for rural and underserved communities. She has a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in health studies, and has used her academic training to improve health care, develop leadership skills in youth and educate the public about disparate conditions in underserved communities in Alabama.  In 2007, Workman created “Eyes Wide Open” where students study local demographic trends associated with chronic health conditions, economic indices and education attainment levels to design advocacy campaigns and outline volunteer activities that fulfill unmet needs in the community. Students have organized a new campus community service organization to provide resources to local nursing home facilities and assist local nonprofits.

The two teachers will be honored along with 11 other winners including U.S. Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Deborah Taylor Tate, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In addition, State Senator Frederica S. Wilson, Minority Leader Pro Tempore of the Florida Senate, will be recognized in Naples, FL on June 23.

— Teachers of Color