Dr. Lindsay Colyer was named “2025 Mississippi Rural Teacher of the Year” during an award ceremony Feb. 28 at William Carey University.
The ceremony was part of an annual conference for K-12 educators hosted by the Program for Research and Evaluation for Public Schools (PREPS) at William Carey University and the Mississippi Rural Education Association (MSREA), which is supported by both WCU and Mississippi State University.
Colyer teaches science at Mississippi School of the Arts – earth and space science, botany, zoology, human anatomy/physiology, and chemistry. Her passion for science began in childhood, fueled by curiosity and nurtured by mentors.
“Now, as a teacher, she engages students with hands-on activities, reflection journals and active learning strategies to make science come alive. Whether it’s ‘Would you rather be a proton, neutron, or electron?’ or exploring cephalopods, her students develop critical thinking skills,” said Dr. Chuck Benigno, executive director of PREPS.
Colyer said the approach makes sense: “It may seem like a strange question, but you can’t tell me whether you want to be a proton, neutron, or electron without learning something about them. That’s the beginning of knowing how to research.”
Three other “Rural Teacher of the Year” finalists were honored during the ceremony: Lauren Hausler of West Hancock Elementary School; Terrance Thomas of Caledonia Elementary School; and Elizabeth White of Amite County Elementary School.
The conference included special awards for educators making a difference in Mississippi schools: Taylor McCabe-Juhnke of Rural Schools Collaborative; Dr. Kolin Napier, Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN); and inspirational speakers Emma Benoit and Dwight Owens. About 50 school teachers and administrators received diplomas for graduating from the PREPS CEO Leadership Academy – CEO stands for Collaborating to Empower Others.
Finally, PREPS kicked off the virtual module of the conference. Mississippi K-12 teachers and administrators in PREPS districts can earn continuing education units through the end of March by attending online courses. For information, call (601) 318-6229.
