Tag Archives: Math Teachers

Math teacher M.B.W. Tent also writes books for young people

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Many fine educators have also earned a name for themselves as published authors. One of these is M.B.W. Tent, a math teacher who has published several books for young people.

M.B.W., whose first name is Margaret, was born on Nov. 2, 1944. She was raised in western Massachusetts. As a young girl, she graduated from Amherst Regional High School. Following high school, she earned both her Bachelor’s degree and her Master’s degree at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

For many years, M.B.W. taught school at Altamont High School in Birmingham, Alabama. She has said she has enjoys bringing the history of mathematics into her teaching.

M.B.W. has published a number of educational books about mathematicians for students of elementary school age. Her works include Emmy Noether: The Mother of Modern Algebra (2008); The Prince of Mathematics: Carl Friedrich Gauss (2009); Leonard Euler and the Bernoullis: Mathematicians from Basel (2009); Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz: The Polymath who Brought us Calculus (2019). She also published A 1928 Road Trip from the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts to the National Parks of the West (2011).

As an author, many of M.B.W.’s books have earned favorable reviews from professional organizations such as the Mathematical Association of America and the Association for Computing Machinery. In addition, her books are frequently cited in academic publications, and they have garnered praise from such renowned mathematicians as Charles Ashbacher, William Dunham, Peter Neumann, Peter Lax, and Cathleen Synge Morawetz.

Former math teacher Drew Allbritten served in Michigan House of Reps

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Former middle and high school math teacher Drew Allbritten also served in the Michigan State House of Representatives. Photo Credit: Western Michigan University

Many fine educators have gone from the classroom into positions of prominence in government. This is certainly true of Drew Allbritten, a former math teacher from Michigan who was elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives.

Drew was born on April 24, 1947. He studied at Western Michigan University, where in 1968, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Math and Sociology. In 1970, he earned a Master’s degree in Counseling and Personal Management, and in 1982, he earned his PhD in Educational Leadership, also from Western Michigan University.

From 1968 to 1971, Drew taught mathematics and science in public middle and high schools in Wyoming and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Later he worked as a college administrator.

On Nov. 7, 21978, Drew was elected on the Republican ticket to represent the 93rd District in the Michigan State House of Representatives. In the one term her served there, from 1979 to 1980, Drew served on the Committees for City Government; Consumers; and Social Services & Youth. He also served as the Minority Vice-Chair of the Committee on Urban Affairs.

From 1991 to 1998, Drew served as the Executive Director of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE). While in this role, he worked to increase federal funding for adult education by 35%. When he left that position, Drew became the Executive Director of the Georgia Association of Educators, serving there from 1998 to 2002. While in this position, he influenced political issues related to education in Georgia. In 2003, Drew became the Executive Director of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), an organization dedicated to serving professionals, organizations, and parents of children with physical, mental, and emotional challenges. This organization is based in Arlington, Virginia.

To read more about Drew Albritten, see this article about him published by Western Michigan University.

Florida teacher Ashely Hernandez earns prestigious Milken Award

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Congrats to Ashley Hernandez, a high school math educator from Florida who has earned a prestigious Milken Award for 2021-2022. Photo Credit: Herald Tribune

Congratulations are in order for Ashley Hernandez, a high school math educator from Florida who has earned a prestigious Milken Award for 2021-2022. The award honors exemplary teachers nationwide, and has been given to only about 60 educators this year.

Ashley, whose career as an educator spans 14 years, currently teaches Geometry and Advanced Placement Statistics in grades nine through twelve at Riverview High School in Sarasota, Florida. “Teachers like Ashley Hernandez have a special gift for making students feel heard and valued,” asserts Stephanie Bishop, Milken Educator Awards Vice President. “Her positive attitude and compassion for the transitions and challenges that high schoolers face create an environment where students can excel in their academic journey and beyond,” Bishop continues.

In addition to her responsibilities in the classroom, Ashley serves on her school’s instructional leadership team and she is a member of her district’s leadership academy. In addition, she delivers professional development sessions on student engagement and instructional technology. Throughout the pandemic, Ashley worked tirelessly to help her school’s staff master internet tools such as Zoom, Blackboard, Gradebook, and Microsoft Teams. And as if all this were not enough, Ashely she leads the PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) data team on her campus

It is her work with the PBIS that caught the attention of the Milken Awards committee. “She does so much beyond the confines of the classroom,” says Bishop. “Ashley really embodies everything that we’re looking for in an American Educator Award recipient. She is doing everything in terms of not only exemplifying academic excellence, but she is just going above and beyond to make sure that students hold needs are being met at that school,” Bishop concludes.

Ashley earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Math Education from the University of South Florida in 2008. She has also earned two Master’s degrees from American College of Education, one in Curriculum and Instruction in 2013 and the other in Educational Leadership in 2018.

Laura Baker-Coronis of Connecticut earns coveted Milken Award

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Congratulations are due to Laura Baker-Coronis, a high school math teacher from Connecticut who has earned a 2021 Milken Award. She is one of only 60 teachers nationwide to garner the coveted honor this year.

Currently, Laura teaches ninth graders at Ansonia High School in Ansonia, Connecticut. Her students use algebra to solve mysteries, compare cell phone plans based on data usage, design cars, and use real world data to make predictions and figure out which careers provide the most income. In the Cereal Box Challenge, a highlight of her geometry classes, Laura’s students design boxes to hold specific volumes, with constraints like production costs, graphics, and having to fit multiple boxes into specified shipping cartons. Every activity Laura designs centers around discourse, peer review, and teamwork Laura also emphasizes socialization, open communication, respect, and mutual commitment.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Laura serves as Math Department Chair, mentors student teachers, leads professional development in her district, and works on district committees for curriculum development and SRBI (Scientific Researched-Based Interventions). During the pandemic, Laura trained colleagues in Google Classroom, created instructional math videos to engage students, and helped re-vamp the curriculum to help students hit priority standards, despite the challenges of remote instruction. She also created a “problem bank” with thousands of sample problems for all teachers to use in their instruction in an effort to raise her school’s SAT scores.

Laura earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics in 2011 and her Master’s in Education in 2015, both from Southern Connecticut State University.

The Milken Educator Awards have been described by Teacher Magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to the $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the award includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country whose work strengthens best practices in education. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.

SD math teacher Nichole Bowman earns Milken Educator Award

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Nichole Bowman, a high school math teacher in Pierre, South Dakota, has earned a prestigious Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: Pierre School District.

It is always a pleasure for me to share stories about talented educators who have earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Nichole Bowman, a high school school math teacher from South Dakota who has earned a prestigious Milken Educator Award for 2021-2022.

Nichole’s career as an educator has spanned a total of 15 years, all of them in South Dakota. She currently teaches Geometry, Algebra, and Algebra II at all grade levels at TF Riggs High School in Pierre. Previously she taught at Georgia Morse Middle School in Pierre, and she has also taught at schools in Rapid City and Kimball.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Nichole has worked for the South Dakota Department of Education (SDDOE) on reviewing and revising state content standards in math. She has also led workshops that share best practices for math teachers. She has also worked on a committee that explores policies that address the needs of the district’s diverse population.

Nichole’s work with her students goes well beyond the pedagogy. “I start by making sure they know it’s not just about math. It’s about them—about their education and how they learn, and what they know they are capable of,” she declares. “Half the battle as a math teacher, and probably any educator, is making them believe that they can do it. I really let them keep their own pace. I introduce a topic. Then, it’s really on them,” she continues. “They work in teams—three brains are better than one—and they work together, and they communicate. Communication is a big one,” Nichole concludes.

The Milken Award is not the only recognition Nichole has earned. Just last month, Nichole was selected Pierre School District 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Nichole is a native of Armour. After her high school graduation in 2003, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, with a Specialty in Mathematics, in 2007 from Northern State University in Aberdeen.

The Milken Educator Awards have been described by Teacher Magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to the $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the award includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country whose work strengthens best practices in education. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.