Kelly Greene
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Dustin Rucker, a seventh grade math teacher at Madison County Central School (MCCS), was awarded the well deserved Shine Award, on Tuesday, Sept. 20, by Governor Rick Scott during Florida’s cabinet meeting. He was the only teacher from Madison County to be presented with this award, which is routinely granted to outstanding educators in Florida who have shown to have made a positive impact on the students in their classroom.
Rucker has made significant contributions to the field of education which, can be observed by looking at the high Value-Added Model (VAM) scores that he has obtained for many consecutive years. These scores are calculated by assessing the average amount of learning growth of the teacher's students, and whether they are above or below the expected learning growth of similar students in the state.
Rucker serves as the school’s athletic director, head baseball coach and is a member of the High Impact Teacher Corps when he is not teaching in the classroom.
Rucker is from Douglas, Ga., where he graduated from Coffee High School and from Augusta State University. He is now pursuing his master's in education leadership from the American College of Education.
Rucker currently resides in Madison with his expectant wife, Danyel Rucker, of Madison, who teaches Kindergarten at MCCS. His parents are Brent and Angelia Rucker and he has one brother, J.B. Rucker.
“My mother has always pushed me to succeed, no matter who or what gets in the way,” stated Rucker. “She has always taught me to do the right thing which is what I feel is the most ethical way to be in life.”
Additionally, according to Rucker, his favorite quote is from the former MCCS principal, Dr. Miles: “All kids can learn.” He also adds that he teaches math the old-fashioned way, line them up and add, subtract, multiply, and divide. “The way I learn it is the way I teach it.”
Rucker was awarded with six other educators from around the state of Florida.
“I applaud these teachers for their dedication to making sure every student has the opportunity to get a good education and be prepared for the future,” said Governor Rick Scott in a press release.