Kay Seabolt,

who is in her 31st year as a math teacher and who has served as the Fayette

County School System's math coordinator for the last 19 years, was honored

given by the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

This award

is given to an outstanding district math coordinator who has served as

a mentor to teachers and has been an advocate for math education. Kay

says she had no idea that she was receiving the award although hints were

being dropped left and right. Even when her daughter was called up front

to help present the award it still did not dawn on her that she was the

recipient.

"I was

totally surprised to learn that the award was being given to me,"

said Kay. "Earlier I had heard some say 'the apple doesn't fall far

from the tree' in relation to my daughter Kayla and at the time the award

was being presented that same phrase was used. I should have known something

was up but I really didn't realize it was me until my name was called."

At the beginning

of the academic year, Kay was beaming with pride when her daughter was

named the 2002 Georgia Teacher of Promise by the same organization. Kayla,

who is now in her second year of teaching at Flat Rock Middle, was nominated

a teacher with one to three years of experience who has shown exemplary

teaching skills.

Both Kay and

Kayla say they knew early in their lives that teaching was their chosen

path. Now these two teachers enjoy sharing stories of triumph and struggle

with each other as they strive daily to bring the best math education

possible to Fayette's students.

"It's

really great to have someone in the family who can relate to what I am

talking about," said Kayla about her mother. "The best advice

my mother gave me when I first started teaching was to have fun and relate

to my students' lives. That advice has served me well."

Following her

mother's example, Kayla has established a reward system in her classroom

called the Stars Reward System. Her classes are divided into teams. Each

time members of the team perform well in class or exhibit exceptional

behavior, Kayla rewards them with a note. She posts a running tally in

the room so teams can see who is in the forefront with the most notes.

At the end of every eight weeks the winning team receives a prize.

Kay says the

most unique aspect about the two is that their teaching style is nearly

identical which sometimes scares both of them since neither of them ever

discussed techniques until Kayla began teaching.

"When

she talks to me about how she handled a discipline problem or a particular

classroom situation it is the exact same thing that I did as a classroom

teacher. Her reward system is a good example. It has to be genetic,"

said Kay. "In fact, we are so identical that other than

the fact that

I'm much older, I could take over Kayla's classes and her students would

not be able to tell the difference."

Both mother

and daughter say that math has always been their best subject. Both share

the philosophy that math should be a hands-on activity that students enjoy.

Kayla, who

is in the process of working on her master's degree, someday hopes to

follow in her mother's footsteps and hold an administrative position.

However, for right now, both educators are happy to be where they are

helping Fayette's students gain a better appreciation for math.

"It is

very enjoyable for both of us to be able to share our experiences and

help each other become better educators" said Kay. "It doesn't

get any better than this."