SHS senior Ahmed Hassan was named STAR Student for his score of 35 on the ACT. Ahmed selected Dane Peagler as his STAR Teacher recognizing him as the teacher who most impacted his high school career.
Ahmed, also a National Merit Finalist, is still considering his college options but he plans to study computer science. He's currently a student in Mr. Peagler's Advanced Placement Computer Science course.
"Mr. Peagler always finds a way to apply everything he teaches in a very practical manner, and he can make anything interesting," said Ahmed.
Peagler, who is in his fifth year of teaching, says his first selection as STAR Teacher is very humbling.
"As a teacher, you always want to impact your students," said Peagler who has taught Ahmed for three courses at SHS. "Students like Ahmed always find a way to challenge themselves, and as a teacher, you want to rise to their level of learning."
Ahmed also credited Mr. Peagler's excellent teaching with his high marks on the Advanced Placement Physics exam.
"There were only 18 students who earned a level 5 on the AP Physics exam in Mississippi, and about one third of those were Mr. Peagler's students," said Ahmed.
The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program recognizes high school seniors in Mississippi who earn the highest ACT score in their school. The STAR student then selects his STAR teacher.
Ahmed and Mr. Peagler will be honored during a luncheon hosted by the Mississippi Economic Council and the M.B. Swayze Foundation recognizing all of the STAR students and teachers in the state in April.
