Principals and teachers who wish to observe an exemplary math or science lesson are often directed to master teacher Deneen Houghton's fifth-grade classes at Mayo Elementary School in Mayo. Mrs. Houghton's instructional approach promotes integrated learning-by-doing. For example, while studying the colonial era, her students designed and planted an authentic colonial garden, complete with paths and plants of that era. At the county level, she piloted Quest 2000, a performance-based mathematics curriculum that helps students make connections between story problems and real-world situations. Mrs. Houghton has also developed social studies and math assessments for the county, served as lead teacher in both math and science, and provided training on the National Science Standards.
1995 Towson State University, B.A.
