The 2019 Charles E. Tressler Distinguished Teacher Award

The Hood College Graduate School awarded the 28th Charles. E. Tressler Distinguished Teacher Award to Allyson Golightly, a first grade teacher at Butterfly Ridge Elementary School and graduate student in Hood's Mathematics Instructional Leadership program. Allyson was honored at the College’s 2019 Graduate Degree Recipient Reception.  This award is made possible through a gift from the estate of Sam Eig, a longtime supporter of Hood College.

The award honors distinguished teaching in the Frederick County Public School System and recognizes the influence of a teacher on the lives of young people. That influence and the impact on the teaching profession was something that Mr. Eig felt strongly about, and it is at the heart of the mission of Hood College. Professor Tressler was the Giles Professor Emeritus of Early Childhood Education, and he was a member of the Hood faculty from 1964 to 1990.

After graduating as class president from Tuscarora High School in 2009, Allyson earned her bachelor’s degree from Elon University. She was selected as a Fulbright Scholar and taught English in Korea for a year following college. Upon returning to Frederick in 2014, Allyson was hired to teach 5th grade at Brunswick Elementary School. She taught at Brunswick for four years, during which time she also coached the Brunswick High School girl’s lacrosse team. This year, she made the transition to 1st grade at Butterfly Ridge. She has learned a new teaching curriculum, using blended learning, and she and another teacher established a Frisbee and coding club for older elementary students. What Allyson enjoys most about teaching is building relationships with her students and learning what motivates them. She is also a member of the FCPS Vanguard program.

Congratulations to Allyson - we wish her all the best in her future endeavors!

Inspired by Allyson's story to #GOFURTHER in your studies and career? Learn more about Hood College's Math Instructional Leadership M.S. program by clicking here.