Mrs. Lauren Zarandona has long been a beloved teacher among students and faculty at MSMS and throughout the state. Through intensive outreach programs and dedication in her own classes, Mrs. Z has worked for more than eight years on improving education in Mississippi. She was recently recognized for her devotion with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

The award is open for all math and science teachers. It began with an application consisting of a videotaped lesson and “about 10 pages worth of writing,” including her practice as a teacher and how she has worked and helped other teachers. Within a few months, Mrs. Z, along with 4 other teachers in Mississippi, found out she was a state winner, qualifying her for the national award.

Mrs. Z finds the award to be especially important as its historical existence shows “a sustained commitment from the White House and how much they value math and science.”

Mrs. Z was able to travel to Washington D.C. to receive her award and meet other recognized teachers from the country. During her weekend D.C., Mrs. Z was also able to participate in activities on how to improve STEM education and math/science teaching, sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

In honor of Mrs. Z’s achievement and her commitment to teaching, faculty and administration held a surprise reception on September 13. Current students, parents and staff were invited to attend along with previous MSMS faculty members.

Mrs. Z says her favorite part was “seeing all the returning teachers.” This includes teachers like Mrs. Carter, Dr. Bearden and Ms. Fancher. She says, “It’s really neat because they’ve left behind their legacies and I feel honored to carry those on. It’s hard to make a name for yourself and carry on those legacies, and their presence at the reception made me feel like I was successful in doing that.”

Mrs. Z adds, “I was very surprised and honored that students invested their time, especially since it was raining!”