Outstanding Rural Secondary Teacher
Barbara Mason, Paris R-II
Launch the media gallery 1 playerOutstanding Rural Secondary Teacher
Barbara Mason
Paris R-II School District
Barbara Mason has been educating young people for the last eighteen years in the Paris R-II High School.Mrs. Mason’s teaching experiences have been focused in the subject areas of business and computer classes, making her program one of the top in the state.In addition, Mrs. Mason has been instrumental in bringing FBLA to where it is today. With Barbara’s leadership, she has contributed greatly to the fruition of many student leaders.Paris School District is small, yet they have had students make the stage at the National Convention for the last two years.
Mrs. Mason is described as being creative and innovative in her approach.She is committed in keeping up with current technology and approaches.Her expectations in all her classes and with the students in FBLA is rigorous and high, yet students love her and leave Paris R-II a better person because of her.Barbara has a great passion of the subject matter and works to instill the same feelings in her students. One of her students describes Mrs. Mason’s classes,
“as some of my favorite just for the simple fact of how she engages the kids into what they are learning.You as a student are able to work hands on with the different computer programs and business simulations so that you are able to have a full grasp on what you are learning.”
Not only does Mrs. Mason teach and sponsor several organizations, but she is also the district technology director. She makes learning and meetings fun and applicable.One example is the school district website.Mrs. Mason’s students are responsible for developing and maintaining the website.Barbara has also developed a student technology internship program.She has two students that are responsible for helping maintain the school districts technology.
Barbara also serves as a mentor for many of her colleagues.Her attention to detail and fluency with technology provides an invaluable service to the district.Other instructors utilize her expertise on a regular basis to help with minor and major technology issues that could potentially hurt the operation of a small school with no on-site tech team.
An educator who believes in setting the bar high with attainable, yet challenging goals, not being afraid of change and making all those around her better, makes it appropriate to congratulate Barbara Mason as Missouri’s Outstanding Rural Secondary Teacher for 2014.