ISS Faculty Member Named NAIS 'Teacher of the Future'
Douglas Ray, Latin and English instructor and Poet-in-Residence at Indian Springs School, has been selected by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) as a 2014-15 Teacher of the Future.
As one of only 35 teachers chosen nationwide for the organization’s seventh annual Teachers of the Future program, Ray will participate in a variety of initiatives designed to strengthen learning and teaching at independent schools as well as expand their leadership capacities.
The 2014-15 participants, who met this week for a conference in Alexandria, Va., were selected from a large pool of nominees who exemplify creativity and innovation in the classroom, inspire academic excellence in students, and serve as opinion leaders among their colleagues and peers. “These exceptional Teachers of the Future are not only preparing children to succeed in life; they are moving the profession forward by modeling innovative practices and leadership among their peers,” says NAIS President John Chubb.
Guided by NAIS staff and other mentors, Ray and fellow participants will explore four themes: blended and online learning, student health and well-being, student assessment, and accreditation. At the conclusion of the program, they will share their findings with the education community.
A native of Mississippi, Ray is the author of He Will Laugh (Lethe Press, 2012), a collection of poems. He received his B.A. in classics and English and an M.F.A. in creative writing from The University of Mississippi, where he edited The Yalobusha Review. A Lambda Literary fellow, Ray has taught Latin and English at Indian Springs since 2010.
“Douglas Ray is an ideal choice for the distinguished Teachers of the Future program,” says Indian Springs School Director Gareth Vaughan. “He poses challenging questions to his students, both in and out of the classroom, and teaches them to question their own assumptions and think critically as they form—and express—their opinions. He engages his students through real-world projects and technologies. And he leads by example, bringing writers and poets to Indian Springs as part of the school’s Visiting Writers Series, which he co-founded, and continuing to write and publish on topics about which he is extremely passionate. He will bring innovative ideas and great energy to the 2014-15 program.”
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As one of only 35 teachers chosen nationwide for the organization’s seventh annual Teachers of the Future program, Ray will participate in a variety of initiatives designed to strengthen learning and teaching at independent schools as well as expand their leadership capacities.
The 2014-15 participants, who met this week for a conference in Alexandria, Va., were selected from a large pool of nominees who exemplify creativity and innovation in the classroom, inspire academic excellence in students, and serve as opinion leaders among their colleagues and peers. “These exceptional Teachers of the Future are not only preparing children to succeed in life; they are moving the profession forward by modeling innovative practices and leadership among their peers,” says NAIS President John Chubb.
Guided by NAIS staff and other mentors, Ray and fellow participants will explore four themes: blended and online learning, student health and well-being, student assessment, and accreditation. At the conclusion of the program, they will share their findings with the education community.
A native of Mississippi, Ray is the author of He Will Laugh (Lethe Press, 2012), a collection of poems. He received his B.A. in classics and English and an M.F.A. in creative writing from The University of Mississippi, where he edited The Yalobusha Review. A Lambda Literary fellow, Ray has taught Latin and English at Indian Springs since 2010.
“Douglas Ray is an ideal choice for the distinguished Teachers of the Future program,” says Indian Springs School Director Gareth Vaughan. “He poses challenging questions to his students, both in and out of the classroom, and teaches them to question their own assumptions and think critically as they form—and express—their opinions. He engages his students through real-world projects and technologies. And he leads by example, bringing writers and poets to Indian Springs as part of the school’s Visiting Writers Series, which he co-founded, and continuing to write and publish on topics about which he is extremely passionate. He will bring innovative ideas and great energy to the 2014-15 program.”
190 Woodward Drive, Indian Springs, Alabama 35124
Phone: 205.988.3350
Indian Springs School, an independent school recognized nationally as a leader in boarding and day education for grades 8-12, serves a talented and diverse student body and offers admission to qualified students regardless of race, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Located in Indian Springs, Alabama, just south of Birmingham, the school does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic and other school-administered programs.
© 2023 Indian Springs School. All Rights Reserved.
© 2023 Indian Springs School. All Rights Reserved.