Receiving the Presidential Award is a testament to not only my dedication in the classroom, but also a tribute to the outstanding educators that I was blessed with as a student. Their investment into my education is what ignited my passion for teaching and learning and inspires me to continually seek ways to improve in my career. It is an honor to be recognized with such a prestigious award, and I am humbled by the opportunity to be acknowledged among such an elite community of educators.

Lainey Hodge Monroe, LA | 7-12, Mathematics, 2023

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Lainey Hodge has taught mathematics for 14 years with the past two years spent at Sterlington High School. She previously taught at Ouachita Parish High School for three years, Haughton High School for six years, and Minden High School for her first three years as a teacher. She currently teaches Geometry to various academic levels. Lainey has also taught Algebra I, Algebra III, Advanced Math, Financial Literacy, and Math Essentials. Lainey is a mentor teacher and content leader who facilitates school and districtwide professional development (PD) to new and veteran teachers and provides ongoing curriculum implementation support in Ouachita Parish. She is a teacher leader advisor for the Louisiana Department of Education and collaborates with fellow advisors statewide to review 9-12 mathematics curricula. Additionally, she works with Rivet Education, Inc. to review PD on high-quality instructional materials. As a lifelong learner, Lainey continually seeks new and exciting ways of engaging students in mathematics content while maintaining rigor in the classroom. Her instructional routines include strategically questioning students as they discover mathematical concepts and fostering student discourse through the learning process. Lainey earned a B.S. in biology education from Louisiana Tech University and an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction with a STEM concentration from Louisiana State University Shreveport. She is certified in secondary mathematics, secondary biology, mentor teacher, content leader, and educational leadership. She was recognized as the 2023 Outstanding High School Teacher by the Louisiana Association of Teachers of Mathematics and the 2014 Region 7 Secondary Teacher of the Year by the Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators.

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