Scott Teays Elementary’s Warren Receives Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award

Scott Depot (April 30) – Throughout her youth, others told Carla Adams Warren she had a gift for teaching. Yet that only reinforced what Warren already knew — she was and always would be a teacher!

“To be the best, you must have passion for educating children,” Warren notes. “At times, your paycheck may discourage you. Your love for teaching must fill the void. You will steer clear of the profession, or you will become a confident, fervent, exemplary teacher, as I strive to be each day!”

For the past 13 years, Warren has shared her “gift” with hundreds of students. Today, the Scott Teays Elementary first-grade teacher’s contributions were reciprocated. Warren was one of only 10 West Virginia teachers to receive a 2002 Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award. Arch Coal President and Chief Executive Officer Steven F. Leer presented the award, accompanied by Gov. Bob Wise, Secretary of Education and Arts Kay Goodwin, State Schools Superintendent David Stewart, and West Virginia Education Association President Tom Lange, at an awards ceremony at the school where Warren teaches.

“Each year, we are thrilled with the exceptional level of talent we see in West Virginia teachers,” says Leer. “The careful selection process – by a blue-ribbon panel of peer judges – makes the award that much more distinguished. I’m glad Arch can have a small part in recognizing the many teachers in West Virginia who bring the magic of learning into our children’s classrooms every day.”

“In my professional career, I have observed many classrooms where teachers strive to make learning fun for their students,” notes RCMS Assistant Principal Cynthia Frazier. “But I have viewed none that have the ability to immerse their students in the written words of reading and the concrete concepts of math better than Carla Warren!”

”Master Teacher is not a term that I use loosely, or often,” adds Robert E. Hull, director of Early Childhood-Title I. “It is, however, the only term that adequately describes Carla Warren. Carla is one of those teachers that embodies all of the characteristics you desire in a teacher.”

“The most important thing I do for my students is to empower them to take ownership of their successes,” Warren says. “The intrinsic joy I feel each day with my students motivates me to continue to touch young lives.”

Warren earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Marshall University and another 60+ hours at various institutions.

In addition to recognition, each award recipient receives a $2,500, unrestricted cash prize and a distinctive glass trophy. The Arch Coal teacher recognition program features public nomination and peer selection.

Arch Coal has support from the West Virginia Department of Education, the West Virginia Education Association, and Speedway in promoting the program. Arch Coal’s teacher awards program is one of the longest running in the state.

Arch Coal is the nation’s second largest coal producer and a supplier of clean-burning, low-sulfur coal exclusively. Approximately 2,000 people are employed at Arch’s operations in West Virginia. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACI) and maintains its corporate headquarters in St. Louis.