Last fall, DC Public Schools teacher Angela Benjamin received a call that she described as “a reward and recognition for fifteen years of hard work.”  Ms. Benjamin, a physics teacher at Woodrow Wilson Senior High School, was sitting at her desk in her classroom when former DC Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee called to inform her that she had won one of seven DCPS Excellence in Teaching Awards.  “I actually answered my phone, usually I don’t have time to.  I am glad I did.”  To call Ms. Benjamin a physics teacher is not entirely accurate.  Walk into her classroom on any given day and you will see her bouncing between three different groups of students studying three different sciences: physics, computer design, and robotics.

The Excellence in Teaching Awards are given to seven teachers in DC Public Schools rated highly effective on the DCPS IMPACT Performance Evaluation.   Of the six hundred-plus teachers to receive this rating, Ms. Benjamin was one of seven chosen to be honored at the DC Public Education Fund’s first annual A Standing Ovation for DC Teachers event.  On November 1^st, 2010, Ms. Benjamin joined her peers and members of the civic and business communities in the Concert Hall of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to accept her award and be recognized for her hard work and dedication to her students and the community.

“I had already bought myself a fancy dress, and Chancellor Rhee said ‘Girl, you get to wear your dress!’  It was exciting and hard to believe,” she explained, smiling.  After accepting her award on the Kennedy Center stage from David Gregory of NBC's Meet the Press, Ms. Benjamin was moved by the succession of people waiting to shake her hand.  A Standing Ovation is meant to let teachers know that they are appreciated.  “For every negative story about teachers there are 10 or maybe 90 positive ones.”

Ms. Benjamin is no ordinary teacher.  She works tirelessly at Wilson to ensure that her students are successful.  Writing the AP Physics exams, coaching extracurricular science clubs, and leading Wilson’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Academy, she is constantly finding new ways to inspire, motivate, and encourage her students.

“My method is to make kids think, the whole point is that they teach themselves.”

Evidence of her efforts can be seen in her students’ success. Her classroom walls are lined with trophies from competitions and her students consistently score well on Advanced Placement exams.  When asked what advice she would offer to future teachers, Ms. Benjamin said, “Love your subject, find your best way to interact with the kids, find a mentor, remember to self-reflect and don’t despair, be passionate and committed.”

To learn more about Ms. Benjamin and other 2010 Excellence in Teaching Award honorees, click here.