Gary Piercey
Westbury Christian School
Houston, TX

"While my philosophies regarding education are always progressing, my top four convictions are - diversity brings opportunity, curriculum needs to be relevant to students' lives, interpersonal relationships with students are essential and students must be held to a standard of excellence. Teaching a culturally widely diverse group of students provides wonderful opportunities. I am always 'on the prowl' for an appropriate application lesson to tie to the curriculum."

"Gary brings dignity and respect to our profession and daily examples a life of high standards and commitment to his students as he walks into a classroom where more than Math is taught. On any given day, he transforms himself with poise, skill, and focus from master teacher to proficient counselor, to big brother, to life changer. Is he the teacher that every parent prays for? Is the future bright in education with men like him? Undoubtedly, the answer is a resounding YES!"

Building around mathematics, Gary provides a series of service-oriented activities connecting his students to the community by helping others. Working on an instructional video sharing project with the prison education system within Texas and developing mathematically derived games for children's organizations around Houston are a few examples of what Gary and his students do to help the community. Whether showing how math relates to nutrition or painting a house, students in Gary's classes learn through hands-on applications. Not one to abandon his former students after graduation, Gary tries to visit them on campus and send care packages during final exams. Gary wants his students to meet their potential and become architects of a better future.

Other Highlights:

• USA Today All Star Team, 2002
• Crystal Apple Award for Outstanding Teachers in Houston, 1998
• Texas Christian Schools Association Teacher of the Year, 1998
• Westbury Christian School Teacher of the Year, 1996, 2002
• Radio Shack Teacher of the Year, 2003Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year, 2003
• La Madeleine Teacher of the Year, 2003
• Developed and produced an instructional video library for mathematics (120 hours+), 1997 - present
• Lead Teacher - curriculum coordinator, 1996 - present
• Toyota TIMES Grant Judge, 2004
• Grant recipient from the following: Toyota TIME, $10,000, 2002; USA Today, $2,500, 2002; ING -Northern Life, $2,000, 2002; Abilene Christian University Grant, $500, 1998; First Colony Church of Christ Educational Learning Grant, $500, 2000
• Featured on Houston, ABC Channel 13, 2002
• Featured on Houston radio, SUNNY 99, 2002
• Published "Creativity in the Math Classroom," FINE, a Harvard based publication; and "A Missionary Who Happens to Teach Math," Family Connection
• Harris County Judge, Robert Eckels Proclamation, "Gary Piercey Day", 2002
• Member of National Christian Schools Association, Texas Christian Schools Association, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Texas Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Association for Curriculum and School Development