Williams College has awarded the annual George Olmsted Jr. Class of 1924 Prize for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching to four outstanding high school teachers.
The recipients are Geoffrey Coleman, an Algebra II teacher at Potsdam High School in Potsdam, N.Y.; Ray Gormally, an Advanced Placement (AP) United States history teacher at Collins Hill in Suwanee, Ga.; Leslie Smith, a social studies and English language arts teacher at John A. Rowland High School in Rowland Heights, Calif.; and Josh Waymire, a Symphony Band, Marching Band and AP music theory teacher at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Each year, Williams seniors nominate high school teachers who played influential roles in their lives and education. A committee of faculty, staff and students choose winners from among the nominees. Recipients of the award receive $3,000, and an additional $5,000 is given to each recipient’s school. The Olmsted Prize was established in 1976 with an endowment from the estates of George Olmsted Jr. and his wife, Frances.
Each year, Williams seniors nominate high school teachers who played influential roles in their lives and education. A committee of faculty, staff and students choose winners from among the nominees. Recipients of the award receive $3,000, and an additional $5,000 is given to each recipient’s school. The Olmsted Prize was established in 1976 with an endowment from the estates of George Olmsted Jr. and his wife, Frances.
Coleman was nominated by Sylvain Foisy ’24; Gormally was nominated by Megan Groomes ’24; Smith was nominated by Milo Chang ’24; and Waymire was nominated by Gwyn Chilcoat ’24.
Published June 5, 2024