West Teays fourth grade teacher Barbara Black has been named the West Virginia Elementary Mathematics Teacher of the Year by the WV Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Black was chosen for her innovative and creative teaching style, her use of best teaching practices, and her ability to engage students in learning.

Besides her outstanding work in the classroom, Black is also a mathematics leader in the county, serving on the elementary math cadre as a trainer and facilitator. In addition, she assisted in mapping the math curriculum and developed a guide for using technology in mathematics instruction. Along with other members of the county's multi-level Mathematics Leadership Team, she will be instrumental in developing a district five-year math plan. Black also consults for the West Virginia Department of Education.

This is not the first award Black, who holds National Board of Professional Teaching Standards Certification, has earned this year; she was also named a recipient of the prestigious Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award in 2006.

Black is the first Putnam teacher to win the state mathematics award at the elementary level. Hurricane High teacher Louise Goode and retired teacher Ava Crum are both past winners at the high school level.