Susan McLaughlin-Jones, a science teacher at Lafayette High School, has received the 2016 Copper Black Award for Creative Achievement from the Mensa Foundation. This national honor included $500, a plaque, and a medal, which were presented at the Aug. 22 meeting of the Fayette County Board of Education.
The Mensa Foundation judges were impressed with McLaughlin-Jones’ development of Culturally Engaging Instruction (CEI) – a successful teaching strategy to address pervasive achievement gaps among students from diverse backgrounds. CEI, a model that emerged from McLaughlin-Jones’ 2012 dissertation, uses subtle cultural cues to improve student engagement. Field-tested in her classroom and around the school district, CEI has produced anecdotal, qualitative, and quantitative results.
“The CEI framework allows educators to understand why best practices such as nurturing relationships, group learning, and smaller learning communities matter so much in improving student achievement,” McLaughlin-Jones said. “I am grateful to Fayette County Public Schools for supporting my research and also to the individuals who have supported me – from proof-reading papers, being my sounding board, participating in the many projects I’ve initiated, and encouraging my relentless pursuit to improve schools for all students.”
McLaughlin-Jones earned her bachelor’s degree in physics from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and her master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Kentucky. She has taught in FCPS since 1996 and at Lafayette since 2000. She is also youth coordinator for Bluegrass Mensa, a local chapter of Mensa International.