Insurance Education Institute (IEI)

Marcia Allen Named National Insurance Educator of the Year for 2003

Marcia Allen (left) is presented the James L. Osborne Insurance Educator of the Year award by IEI Program Coordinator, Carol Silvey.

The Insurance Education Institute (IEI) presented the 2003 James L. Osborne Insurance Educator of the Year award to Marcia E. Allen, a teacher at Murphysboro High School in Murphysboro, Illinois. This national award is named in honor of the founder of IEI and presented to a high school teacher who demonstrates excellence and creativity in providing insurance education to our nation’s high school students. Eligibility was limited to the 2,130 high school teachers to date who have graduated from one of seven insurance education institutes sponsored by IEI over the past 15 years and who have taught insurance during the past school year in a course leading to a high school diploma.

She received her award in recognition of her achievement in education in a presentation before family and peers at a school board meeting in Murphysboro on May 20. Carol Silvey, program coordinator, was on hand to represent IEI and to present the award. Murphysboro High School also received an award on behalf of Mrs. Allen.

As winner of the sixth annual competition, Mrs. Allen has been offered and has accepted a position on IEI's National Advisory Council of Secondary Teachers (NACST) and has agreed to be a judge in next year's competition.

Mrs. Allen’s entry into the competition included teaching strategies, lesson plans, and student activities created to teach high school students about insurance, enabling them to become knowledgeable insurance consumers in their adult lives. Fulfilling a pre-requisite to entering this competition, Mrs. Allen completed the IEI sponsored Insurance Education Institute at Illinois State University, Normal, Ill., in 2002.

Mrs. Allen received a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, a Master of Science Degree in Child Development and Family Economics and Management at Southern Illinois University, and has done post-graduate work in Vocational Education Studies/Occupational Education at Southern Illinois University and in insurance education at the IEI sponsored institute at Illinois State University in Normal. She has received numerous awards and has been heavily involved in both community and school activities. She is a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Murphysboro High School and has been teaching insurance and risk management as an integral part of the Consumer Economics class (a required course for all seniors) for the past 25 years.

According to Mrs. Allen’s principal, Mark Bullock, she “has always been a hard working individual and a leader in our Family and Consumer Science department. She stays very current in her field so her students receive the most beneficial and current instruction.”

And from Murphysboro High School Vocational Director, Merle Evans, “I have always been pleased, and sometimes amazed, at Mrs. Allen’s creativity, depth of knowledge, and enthusiasm for her areas of instruction. Certainly, the insurance industry has constituted a major portion of that focus. Marcia’s thorough knowledge of the full spectrum of insurance has always been a heavy component of her lesson plans. Additionally, Mrs. Allen’s knowledge and background in the field are, indeed, extensive. She constantly draws upon examples from personal background, workshop participation, actual business experience, and professional involvement. She has both attended and presented at numerous regional, state, and national professional meetings and has served as a consultant to state programs and projects.”

Of the award, Mrs. Allen said, “I was both surprised and elated to be named the James L. Osborne Insurance Educator of the Year. I had wanted to attend an Insurance Education Institute for many years. I finally had the opportunity this past summer. It was an incredible ten-day experience. The Insurance Education Institute really knows how to treat teachers. I had the opportunity to work with fantastic teachers from all across the country. I went home with many fresh ideas, teaching kits and lots of lesson plans. I would recommend this institute to both new and experienced teachers. I am looking forward to working with the Advisory Council, The Insurance Education Institute, and the many insurance instructors across the country who are all ‘Insurance Educators of the Year.’ ”

IEI extends its most hearty congratulations to a well-deserved award recipient—Marcia Allen!