Tally Kruger and Signe Carney, teachers at Sennett and Memorial Schools respectively, recently received distinguished alumni awards from the UW-Madison School of Education.

Carney, who teaches algebra at Memorial, won the Heideman Distinguished Secondary Education Alumni Award. Kruger, who teaches math and science to 7th and 8th graders at Sennett, received the Nemec Distinguished Elementary Education Alumni Award. They are two of only seven educators honored at the school's alumni weekend.

It's interesting that both Carney and Kruger have been in one MMSD school for their entire teaching career and both have a Master's degree.

Carney is in her 11th year at Memorial and has her Master's in Curriculum and Instruction. She uses context and discovery to teach students who feel they've never been good with math. "It's rewarding to try different pedagogy and see that it works," she said.

Kruger is in her 7th year at Sennett and has her Master's in Educational Psychology. She has led efforts to incorporate technology and inquiry-based instruction into the curriculum. "I'm humbled by this award," she said. "So many teachers put great effort and energy into their teaching."

Four MMSD teachers have won the Rockwell Award from the UW School of Education for outstanding work as cooperating teachers in the field experience program.

They are:

• Sara Bringman - cross categorical at Jefferson,
• Catherine McKinley-McGaw — 1st grade at Chavez,
• Marcia North — 1st grade at Muir
• Don Vincent — science at West.

Each receives $1000 for the award which recognizes "excellent teachers who have chosen to pass on their expertise by providing professional experiences for UW-Madison student teachers."

Just last month, MMSD Today reported that Vincent received the most prestigious award from the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers.