Jonesboro Teacher one of the best in the nation

By Rich McKay

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Shekema Silveri's students call her "Mrs. S." or "Ms. Silveri" or just "Mom."

And now they can also call her one of the best teachers in America.

Silveri, an English teacher and department chair at Jonesboro's Mount Zion High School, was recently named Georgia's 2011 National Milken Educator of the year, an award often dubbed the Oscars of Teaching, for its prestige. With it comes a no-strings-attached cash prize of $25,000.

"I'm still just speechless about it," she said. "It was a total surprise. When they called my name, I didn't think I heard them right, but my students kept nudging me, saying, ‘Go-on, it's you, Mom. It's you, Mrs. S.'"

Only 40 or fewer educators earn the designation across the U.S. each year.

"We knew that it was going to be her before they even said her name," said Vicorie Brown, 17, a senior in Silveri's Advanced Placement Literature class. "We all love her."

The Milken Education Award, which was created 25 years ago by the nonprofit California-based Milken Family Foundation, is considered the nation's preeminent education award, recognizing the best teachers and school administrators in the nation.

Silveri was lauded for her ability to innovate learning and inspire her students, said her principal, Monique Drewry.

When many teachers would be commanding students to turn off and put away their cell phones, Silveri often calls for her kids to take their cell phones out and look up vocabulary words or literature topics on the phones' Internet service.

"She has an art to it," Drewry said. "I could go and tell someone step-by-step what to do in a classroom, but that doesn't mean that they could reach the kids. Shekema does."

Silveri links topics in books, such as the social unrest demonstrated by the Occupy Atlanta and Occupy Wall Street movement with books such as George Orwell's "1984."

"I try to make the connections," Silveri said. "Orwell's ‘1984′ isn't just a book, isolated as its own thing. It's connected. From ‘The Matrix' movie to Occupy Atlanta, it's all around us. I'm not just teaching a book, I'm teaching everything. I really feel that my job is to teach them life."

Silveri brings her students close to experts on topics, inviting guest speakers to her class or to visit via the Internet. She often lets the kids lead the class.

She has her own blog for students, updates class assignments, answers questions and gives extra help on the web.

"Tomorrow's Saturday, but I'll be working for you," she told her students.

Silveri, who's working on her Ph.D. in education at Georgia State University, came to be a teacher only 6 years ago. Prior to that she ran the Atlanta non-profit Rachel's Daughters, a charity dedicated to helping pregnant teens and teenaged mothers.

She turned to teaching because she thought she could reach more children and do more good in the classroom.

Her advanced placement classes are open to any student who wants to sign up, regardless of previous academic success.

"I get some kids who never heard of noun-verb agreement, but I'll take them all," she said.

How does she cover any academic gaps?

"I just love on them some more," she said. "It doesn't matter what number they get on a graded test. If they've learned more than they would have, then they're a success. That's the way I feel."

In fact, several times during each class, Silveri makes a point of telling her students that she loves them. And that's a big reason why so many of her students call her Mom, said Krystle Swan, 16, an 11th grader.

"She just cares so much and that makes us want to try harder," she said. "I wish this class was all day long."

And like a mother, Silveri also expects her kids to follow the rules, study and do their best.

Placards in her classroom 110 read: "Open for Learning" and "Excuses Stop Here."

Her fellow teacher, Trayce Striggles, said, "Anyone spending just a minute in her classroom can see that she truly loves her kids. She's busy but she always makes time for me and other teachers who ask her for advice."

Silveri learned about the honor about a week ago in an assembly at Mount Zion's gymnasium. She was presented with an over-sized check for a photo while school cheerleaders hollered her name.

She's not sure what she'll do with the cash, except that part of it will go towards a scholarship she wants to establish for Mount Zion students.