GSE Alum Wins Award

An alumnus of the Harvard Graduate School of Education (GSE) won the 2005 National Teacher of the Year Award and had the opportunity to receive the honor in the Rose Garden at the White House this past month.

Jason Kamras has taught mathematics to underprivileged students at John Philip Sousa Middle School in southeast Washington, D.C. for almost a decade, taking only one year off to obtain his masters at Harvard in 1999.

He distinguished himself as a teacher through his dedication to his math courses. He spearheaded a new program for his students, doubling the amount of time they spent on the subject and integrating more technology into his lesson plans.

The reworking yielded immediate results—in 2002, only 40 percent of students posted “below basic” scores on the Stanford 9 test, compared with 80 percent the year before, according to a press release from the Council of Chief State School Officers.

Despite his extensive work at Sousa Middle School, Kamras said he was surprised when the school’s superintendent informed him that he had won the award.

“I was not expecting it,” Kamras said. He described his reaction as “overwhelmed and humbled.”

Long considered one of the most prestigious honors in the teaching profession, the National Teacher of the Year Award is decided by a committee of representatives from 14 national education groups. Kamras is the first teacher from D.C. to receive the award since the program began in 1952.

Starting June 1, Kamras will take on the role of roving ambassador, fulfilling speaking engagements throughout the country and abroad.

“I hope to bring some recognition to my colleagues, many of whom are doing amazing work everyday with children,” Kamras said. “At the same time, I’d like to raise awareness about inequity in public education, and bring attention to policies to close the achievement gap.”

During his time at the GSE, Kamras said he met two professors whose philosophies about education would greatly influence his teaching: Thompson Professor of Education and Society Richard J. Murnane and Director of the Teacher Education Program Katherine K. Merseth.

“[Murnane’s] focus on equity in his approach to economics was something that resonated with me,” Kamras said.

“[Merseth’s] idea of teachers being leaders within schools, and advancing change and leading their schools from within is also an idea to which I subscribe to very much,” he added.

Michael Rodman, Director of Communications at the GSE, expressed pride in Kamras’ success.

“Certainly, the Graduate School of Education has a tremendously accomplished alumni base, and Jason’s achievements are a tremendous honor to him and the teaching that he got here,” Rodman said.

Kamras was given the award in a nationally televised ceremony on April 20, as he was greeted by both President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.

But he said that he preferred that his students take center stage.

“The highlight of the ceremony was having my students there,” Kamras said, “They were on CNN and CSPAN. For me, that was the best part.”