By Peggy Laizure
Beth Harper was one of three finalists in the United States, two in the state, for the presidential highest recognition of K-12 science and math teachers. Another finalist is in Bingham.
Two years ago Belinda Craig was finalist. She also teaches at Southmoore.
The finalists of the PAEMST, Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, will go across the desk of President Obama and he will make the final selection.
"The award is used to encourage mathematics and science teachers to continue to push at all levels," Harper said.
If Harper makes the final cut she and her husband will fly to Washington, D.C. and meet Obama, the secretary of education and other big wheels, she said. She possibly could win a $10,000 grant.
"It will be fun," Harper said. "And we can always use new tech software."
Harper teaches ninth grade pre-AP Geometry and junior Algebra II. She has taught in the Moore schools since 1982. The first 25 years were at Moore West Junior High and when they moved the ninth grade up to high school, she followed them, teaching two years at Westmoore and now at Southmoore.
She has seen many changes in the past 30 years.
"We use lots of calculators," Harper said. "Kids don't know how lucky the are. We didn't get to use them in college."
Harper also uses computers to list grades and attendance that once she did by hand. The curriculum also has changed.
"Students learn a lot more advanced math at an earlier age," she said.
Harper is always looking for ways to keep her students motivated.
"We have lots of technology but if it doesn't keep the kids interested, it doesn't matter what we have," she said.
Many of Harper's students are lower income, she said, and they leave school to work long hours and there is no homework time. Finding a way to reach those students and get them the help they need is a big concern for her.
A good portion of math is problem solving and how you get to the end, she said. You might never use it in the form she shows but the applications are the same.
"Can you solve the problem? That's part of my job," Harper said.
A preacher's daughter, Harper was born in Hutchinson, Kan. She received her bachelor's degree Northwestern Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho, and her master' in education administration at the University of Central Oklahoma. She is a national board teacher certified in early adolescent mathematics. Harper's husband, Randy, moved to Oklahoma City, and she "followed along behind him."
