Madison Turner, who teaches Algebra I and II at Daviess County High School, has been named a 2020 McDonald’s Teach It Forward Outstanding Educator.
Students, parents, colleagues and members of the community were invited to submit nominations of teachers who have made a positive difference in the lives of their students.
“This has brought me a great deal of joy,” said Turner, who does not know who nominated her for this award. “Like all teachers, I am trying to be the best teacher I can be for my kids. During this challenging season of life, knowing I made a positive difference in a student’s life means more to me than I can describe in words.”
Turner said that although she was selected as an honoree in the national program, school employees across the district, state and nation are deserving of respect and appreciation.
“Custodial staff, bus drives, cafeteria workers, administrators, teachers — we’re all putting in so much more time and effort on behalf of our students,” she said.
The Daviess County Public Schools district theme for 2020-21 is “Better Together #teamDCPS.” Turner shared words of encouragement for others in the field of education as they work with students.
“Not many people in today’s world would ever attempt to build a cathedral,” Turner said. “The masterminds behind the construction of many great cathedrals gave their whole lives up for a work they never saw finished. The passion of their work was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw the work they were doing.
“No lesson you’ve ever conquered, no paper you’ve ever graded, no word of encouragement you’ve ever spoken in a time of great need has ever gone unseen. You are building a great cathedral even if you never get to see what it will become. People who focus their work around problems that can be solved in their own lifetime aren’t thinking big enough. Build a cathedral.”
