Centenary graduate chosen as Caddo Parish Middle School Teacher of the Year
SHREVEPORT, LA — Kate Ferguson, a history instructor at Youree Drive Middle School and a Centenary alumna, was recently named Caddo Parish Middle School Teacher of the Year by Caddo superintendent Dr. T. Lamar Goree. Ferguson earned her Master of Education in School Administration from Centenary in 2007 and has been teaching in Caddo Parish Schools for 17 years.
Ferguson completed her undergraduate degree in secondary education at LSUS and taught 9th grade civics at Captain Shreve High School before moving to Youree Drive Middle School in 2002. At Youree, she has taught all grade levels and has been active as a club advisor and teacher mentor. She is currently teaching 6th grade world history and serves as chair of the social studies department.
Dr. Dominic Salinas, who recently retired as chair of Centenary’s Department of Education, wrote a letter of recommendation to support Ferguson’s application for Teacher of the Year and praises her continued involvement with Centenary.
“Kate has always supported out departmental initiatives,” says Salinas. “She was extremely important to our national reaccreditation process in 2014. She has volunteered to allow our candidates into her class for observations and has recommended our candidates and graduates for teaching positions.”
Ferguson knew early in her career that she wanted to pursue a master’s degree in education and identified Centenary’s program as best aligned to her personal goals, interests, and educational beliefs. Centenary has played an integral role in her subsequent path as an educator, mostly because the connections she made at the College have extended well past her graduation.
“Centenary’s professors believe in extending themselves beyond the graduate program to assist their graduates,” explains Ferguson. “For example, they volunteered as Social Studies Fair judges for numerous school fairs that I supervised. They also offered professional advice and opportunities years after my graduation. I have enjoyed the opportunity to serve Centenary as a supervisor of student teachers and mentor to new teachers, and was pleased to have worked as the Local Practitioner during Centenary’s TEAC/CAEP Accreditation process in 2015 and as a member of their Louisiana Teacher Competencies Workshop program in 2017.”
Ferguson was notified of her Teacher of the Year award during a surprise visit earlier this month by Superintendent Goree and will be honored at a formal awards ceremony at a later date. She is currently gathering materials to prepare her submission for the State Teacher of the Year competition.