ATOMIM salutes Paula West Hodgkins as the 2007 Jacqueline Mitchell Mathematics Educator Award recipient for her outstanding contributions to mathematics in the State of Maine.

Ms. Hodgkins graduated from the University of Maine in 1967 with a degree in Math and Math Education. She first taught at the Fox Lane Middle School in New York, and then at the Falmouth Middle School, from where she will retire at the end of this school year.

Through the years, Paula has never stopped expanding her repertoire; she is continually searching for new ideas. She has facilitated CMP training in Maine and is an excellent "teacher of teachers."

Colleagues and administrators concur that Paula has always had a real commitment to kids and their learning, spending a huge amount of time preparing for her classes and staying late almost every day. Always wanting to improve conditions for students, Paula strived to get better at providing learning opportunities for kids. Her goal was to really understand what was going on for kids.

Paula has been described as an amazing teacher, not only an incredible teacher of students, but an incredible trainer of teachers. Whether students or other teachers, Paula always found a way to help those in need.

We honor Paula West Hodgkins for all her work in mathematics and mathematics education by presenting her with the 2007 Jacqueline Mitchell Mathematics Educator Award.

March 30, 2007