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Biographical Information

Currently, Barbara is the principal of a small, Title I elementary school. Formerly, Barbara was a third-grade teacher that instilled a passion for learning in her students at West Teays Elementary School in Hurricane, West Virginia. Described by peers as creative and innovative, she piloted and promoted the school's inquiry-based mathematics program and replaced desks in her classroom with tables to facilitate collaboration on project-based, real-world lessons. Black operates a model 21st century classroom, providing her third graders with access to current technology such as digital cameras, instant responders, PalmPilots, an interactive whiteboard and a document camera. She also teaches them competitive skills such as how to create podcasts and PowerPoint presentations to demonstrate their learning. Black's classroom is filled with aquaria, animals and plants, and she is involved in the Trout in the Classroom project, helping students learn about watersheds and the importance of water as they raise fingerlings to be released in state streams. Her students consistently score at very high levels of mastery in math, reading, science and social studies. A National Board Certified teacher, Black is a member of the West Virginia Department of Education Teacher Leadership Institute and represents the county on the state mathematics committee to revise content standards and objectives. She serves on numerous committees, such as the Putnam County Schools Math Leadership Team, and has mentored several teachers, including those pursuing National Board Certification. Black's classroom was required research at the Principal's Academy for New Administrators, exemplifying academic engagement, critical thinking skills, collaborative problem solving and technological literacy.