Breakthrough Greater Boston, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preparing underserved students to attend four-year college and to training the next generation of urban teachers, presented one of its teachers, Watertown native Noah Jefferson, with the first-ever Elizabeth D. Hodder Award. The award was presented at the organization’s end-of-summer event, ‘Celebration,’ on August 9th.
The Elizabeth D. Hodder Award recognizes one Breakthrough teacher who demonstrates a clear commitment to entering the field of education, who is passionate about closing the achievement gap, and who is a leader in the Breakthrough teaching community.
“As a second year teacher for Breakthrough, Mr. Jefferson’s enthusiasm for education and dedication to improving his craft as an educator represent the ideals and goals of our organization,” said Ms. Hodder. “Mr. Jefferson has shown exceptional skills in the classroom and has been a mentor to both his students and colleagues alike. I am thrilled that he was selected as the first recipient of the Hodder Award.”
A 2012 graduate of Tufts University with a BA in Mathematics, Jefferson is currently pursuing his Master of Arts in Teaching for High School Mathematics, also at Tufts University. Jefferson was a National Merit Scholar and is currently a recipient of Robert Noyce Teaching Fellow – a fellowship for urban math and science teachers. 2012 marked Jefferson’s second summer at Breakthrough Greater Boston where he taught ninth grade math.
“I am honored to have received the Hodder Award and to have had the opportunity to learn and teach at Breakthrough,” said Jefferson. “The program has been exceptionally rewarding and I hope to use the award to grow as an educator so I can give back to the Breakthrough community and students elsewhere.”