Gainesville elementary school teacher finalist for prestigious national award
East Gainesville native Cynthia Tennell is one of six finalists in Florida for the National Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
The awards were established in 1983 and is recognized as the highest honor given by the federal government for K-12 STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) teaching.
“I am honored to represent my district, my church (Open Door Ministries), God and Rawlings Elementary School,” Tennell said. “My work speaks for me. I represent the teachers in the four walls who nobody really knows about.”
Tennell’s propensity in mathematics began when she was a student at Lincoln Middle School and had to stay after school to learn how to solve word problems in math.
“I stayed every day until I got my grades up,” Tennell said. “I learned how to break it down and created a strategy.”
Her former students reach out to her and say how they are still using the strategies she gave them to solve math problems, Tennell said.
“I show them that they can do it and allow them to work around their mental block,” Tennell said. “They learn how to approach the problem.”
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Tennell graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and before attending UF, she graduated from Heritage Christian School.
After graduating from UF, she started working at Caring and Sharing Learning School in 2001 under the leadership of the late Simon Johnson, Ph.D., and his wife Verna Johnson, founders of the school.
“They were the first to give me an opportunity,” Tennell said.
She taught writing, health and physical education at the school, Tennell said.
Tennell then taught third grade at Genesis Preparatory School until 2003-13, and has been working at Rawlings since 2013 at 3500 SE 15th St.
Her math teaching skills has helped countless students excel on standard tests, she said.
“I avoid saying at-risk students and say at-promising students — that’s all the students I work with,” Tennell said. “I love to teach to make it practical. I receive students where their previous score was a Level 1 and when they get to me, they’ve learned so much and moved from a Level 1 to a Level 3 and 4. Some students went from a Level 2 to a Level 5.”
Tennell was nominated by her then-principal Laura Creamer in 2023 and Creamer told her to move forward with the application.
“I didn’t think I would qualify,” Tennell said. “She (Laura) told me, ‘I nominated you because you are a good teacher and have a proven record.’”
She goes the extra mile for her students by giving after school tutoring and being a teacher at Saturday school between January and April, Tennell said.
“I love to see kids reach their fullest potential,” Tennell said. “I want to empower them, help them understand, and let them know that learning is fun. Math is not hard, you just have to understand it and get the basics down.”
Her current principal, Dr. Stella Arduser, says Tennell has been recognized by state officials for her excellent teaching and the progress she makes with students. She’s been classified as a “Highly Effective’ teacher based on her students’ test scores.
“Her lessons are full of energy, and she consistently finds ways to capture the attention of every student through her instructional delivery,” said Arduser.
Each year, 110 teachers nationwide are chosen from among the finalists
to receive the award, which includes $10,000 from the National Science Foundation, an all-expenses paid trip to the recognition ceremony and a certificate signed by the president of the United States.
One math teacher and one science teacher from each state will be selected as a PAEMST recipient.
According to Alachua County Public Schools, later this spring, a national selection committee will review the applications of the finalists, including Tennell. A date for announcing the award winners has not yet been announced.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Teacher in east Gainesville finalist for national award
