Each year FDEA recognizes an outstanding developmental educator. The winner is selected from those you nominate based on involvement in FDEA, contributions to developmental education, promotion of student success, and professional creativity.

Professor Gail Burkett has worked in the Developmental Math field for more than fifteen years. Most of her experience has been in the growing Prep Math Department at Palm Beach Community College. When she started as an adjunct in 1990, PBCC had no full time prep math faculty! Gail became full time faculty in 2000 and has enjoyed watching the tremendous growth of the department and Student Learning Centers.

Thanks to the academic support and financial backing of PBCC's Title III grant, Professor Burkett has been able to lead the way in trying new ideas to increase success in the Prep Math program. She has also worked diligently to find a secondary placement tool to accompany the CPT. She started a math cohort of introductory/intermediate algebra class - with great results. The concept has been expanded to other levels of math, other campuses and other disciplines. She and Prof. Karen Pain won first place in the 2007 Florida Association of Community Colleges Curriculum Commission after presenting the results of her 'combined cohort' classes. Professor Burkett is in the top-3 for consideration as the FACC Professor of the Year 2007.

Gail and her husband live in Jupiter Farms. They have enjoyed traveling through Europe for the past seven summers.