Building relationships and making an impact on the lives of our youth was Craig Mason’s motivation when choosing to become an educator.
“I have always felt that I had the ability to connect with students on a personal level and make mathematics relate to the world around us.”
A mathematics teacher and football coach at Magnolia High School in Wetzel County, Mr. Mason said building relationships with his students both in the classroom and through extracurricular activities is the most gratifying part of his profession.
“The main aspect that makes the West Virginia education system successful is that it offers opportunities for students to advance themselves through various career pathways. Student can prepare for higher education, participate in technical and vocational training, prepare to join the workforce, or pursue enlisting in one of the branches of the military.”
An educator since 2010, Mr. Mason was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 2019, and was named Wetzel County’s 2021 Teacher of the Year, which resulted in him being one of ten finalists for the state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year recognition.
In addition to his master’s degree in secondary education with an emphasis in mathematics, he also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, which allowed him to work for three years as a civil engineer designing roadway projects while completing his degree in education.
When Mr. Mason isn’t busy in the classroom, he enjoys all aspects of athletics and the outdoors as well as spending time with his wife, Meredith, and their three children: Kyle, Laura, and Audrey.