Mandy Goldman is a teacher at West Lauderdale Elementary School in Hattiesburg. She was previously a teacher at Northeast Elementary School in Meridian, where she developed the Art Gifted Program, which led to increased self-esteem, elevated motivation and academic advancement among participating students. Goldman's integration of writing and art was an effective tool, leading to improved writing test scores. Through her Art Quest Buddies program, Goldman's class met weekly with students in a multi-disabled classroom. Their joint projects culminated in "Musing with the West Lauderdale Masters," an art reception at the Meridian Museum of Art. A National Board Certified teacher, Goldman was involved in the National Writing Project Research Initiative in Mississippi and was selected as a consultant for the Mississippi State University Writing Project.
