17 Sep 2002
Florence Middle School Educator Says Students Are Top Priority in Her Life
DALLAS—Verbeana Hatton, a science teacher at Fred Florence Middle School, has been named 2002-2003 Teacher of the Year for the Dallas Independent School District.
General Superintendent Mike Moses presented Hatton with the Teacher of the Year Award which symbolizes excellence in education. In addition, she received $5,000 and will represent the district in the next level of competition sponsored by the Region 10 Education Service Center.
"Verbeana Hatton exemplifies the dedication of educators in our school district," Moses said at Tuesday night's awards banquet sponsored by H-E-B Central Market. "She is a teacher whose genuine concern for education led her to leave a career in the private sector to enter the classroom where she has unquestionably demonstrated a concern for students and an ability to inspire them."
Hatton graduated in 1992 from Langston University in Oklahoma. She has seven years of teaching experience, all of it at Florence Middle School. Hatton has held several academic leadership positions throughout her career, including science department chair, campus mentor for new science teachers, presenter for staff development sessions and coordinator of the school's Math, Science and Technology Fair.
Because she believes in education, Hatton said she makes her students a priority every day that she walks into the classroom.