Robert H. Elliott Memorial Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 7, 2017
STEPHENVILLE, Texas—Tarleton State University College of Education student teacher Marissa Peña is recipient of the Robert H. Elliott Memorial Award, presented today during the Tarleton Department of Curriculum and Instruction’s annual Reflections ceremony.
Named for Robert H. Elliott, who joined Tarleton in 1981 as a professor in the Department of Education and Psychology and supervised the student teacher program at the time of his death in 1990, the award recognizes students who exemplify outstanding classroom qualities.
Peña, from San Antonio, is an Interdisciplinary Studies major with certification in early childhood-sixth grade. She completed her clinical teaching at elementary and middle schools in Granbury.
Peña’s mentor teachers, Sarah Mabery and Sarah Cave, supported her nomination for the Elliott Award and commented that she is “a natural born teacher.”
“Marissa is, hands down, the best clinical teacher I’ve had. She took the initiative to assist with student and classroom needs without hesitation,” said one mentor educator. “Students were consistently interested and engaged by her delivery.”
Peña is also praised as one who “thrives on researching effective teaching strategies, motivational techniques and differentiating activities of high interest to illicit students’ active participation.”
“Ms. Peña is a pro at actively monitoring students and using informal assessment to adjust instruction to meet individual needs,” her mentor teacher noted. “She does an excellent job of enhancing lessons using hands-on activities, technology and competition to not only encourage students to stay on task, but also allow some fun while learning. Ms. Peña is patient, respectful and encouraging, and she desires to create an atmosphere that is highly conducive to learning.”
Friends and colleagues of Dr. Elliott developed the award that bears his name to honor his enthusiasm for education and devotion to students. The veteran educator and administrator served public schools in Colorado for many years before joining Tarleton faculty.
Tarleton, celebrating 100 years as founding member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven educational experience marked by academic innovation and exemplary service, and dedicated to transforming students into tomorrow’s professional leaders. As a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) with campuses in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian and online, Tarleton engages with its communities to provide real-world learning experiences and to address societal needs while maintaining its core values of tradition, integrity, civility, leadership, excellence and service.
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Contact: Kurt Mogonye
254-968-9460
[email protected]
