"Rewards are intrinsic to the educator's experience," says Carolyn Wood, principal of Brookmeade Elementary School in Nashville. "It's people," explains Mrs. Wood, who make the profession exhilarating. Her understanding of the importance of providing caring relationships is reflected in one of the programs she instituted at her school-PANDA Pals Mentoring Program (Patient Adults Nurturing & Developing At-Risk Students). PANDA students are mentored by adults who encourage and monitor their personal and academic development. Mrs. Wood has also implemented numerous programs that involve parents in the school. A homework hotline, evening hour conference schedules and weekly school-wide progress reports are some of the features she has introduced. Parent/faculty meetings are held at local libraries to reduce the distance parents from noncontiguous zones have to travel in order to attend. In 1994, Mrs. Wood was recognized as a Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals.
1997 Tennessee State University - Nashville, M.A.
