Tag Archives: Math Teachers

Kansas math teacher Robin Anderson earns prestigious PAEMST

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Middle School math teacher Robin Anderson of Andover, Kansas, has bee honored by Pres. Joe Biden with a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Photo credit: Andover Middle School

There are many outstanding educators working with America’s young people in our nation’s public schools. One of these is Robin Anderson, a middle  school mathematics teacher from Kansas. In January, 2025, she was recognized by President Joe Biden with a prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

Robin currently teaches Pre-Algebra and Algebra I, at Andover Middle School. She has worked in this capacity since 2019. Previously she served for 19 years as a counselor with Andover Public Schools. In all, her career as an educator spans 30 years.

In a press release, the National Science Foundation stated that “Robin is passionate about making her students effective problem solvers. She strives to have minds-on class discussions and allows their forward thinking to guide their Math Genius Hour projects and presentations. Most of her students and their parents believe her communication is what helps students develop into confident, logical thinkers.”

Robin earned her Bachelor’s degree from Pittsburgh State University in 1997. She earned her Master’s degree from Wichita State University in 1999, and a Master’s degree in Counseling from the same school in 2006.

The PAEMST, Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, recognize the dedication, hard work, and importance that America’s teachers play in supporting learners who will become future STEM professionals, including computer technologists, climate scientists, mathematicians, innovators, space explorers, and engineers. The PAEMST program, founded in 1983, is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The honor comes with a meeting with the President and a $10,000 cash prize.

Meet Virginia’s 2025 State Teacher of the Year: Avanti Yamamoto

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Virginia math teacher Avanti Yamamoto has been named her state’s 2025 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Richmond

There are many outstanding educators working in our nation’s schools today, all of them deserving of special recognition. One of them is Avanti Yamamoto, a high school mathematics teacher from Hanover County, Virginia. She has been named her state’s 2025 Teacher of the Year!

Avanti teaches precalculus and International Baccalaureate math applications and interpretations at Atlee High School in Mechanicsville, Virginia. In her classroom, Avanti prioritizes critical thinking and real-world connections, ensuring that students of all abilities feel capable and supported in their learning. She says she is committed to inclusive teaching, working with students who are in special education programs all the way to advanced math courses. She also collaborates with teachers in other disciplines, working with her colleagues to design innovative math projects that blend creativity with pracical applications.

Beyond the classroom, Avanti writes a blog entitled, Beyond the Bell. She also participates in statewide presentations, where she highlights inspiring stories of educators from across the commonwealth who are making meaningful impacts and offers suggestions for creating positive environments among her colleagues. Furthermore, she has spoken internationally about educational practices, including audiences of teachers in rural Manthani, India, where she has deep personal ties.

Avanti’s passion for education was inspired by a university professor who made math accessible and exciting, Avanti says. That professor motivated her to reconsider a career in medicine, and choose instead a career path where she helps students see themselves as “math people.”

Avanti earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biomathematics from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2012. She is currently working on her Master’s degree in Education from James Madison University. In addition, she is a National Board Certified Teacher in Adolescence and Young Adulthood Mathematics. Her career as an educator spans ten years.

In addition to her State Teacher of the Year honors, Avanti has been named a Hanover Scholars Honored Educator multiple times, and she is also a finalist for Hanover County’s Innovator of the Year award.

Iowa’s Brett Hoyer: Exceptional baseball coach and math teacher

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Math teacher and Head Baseball Coach Brett Hoyer of Cedar Rapids, Iowas, was inducted into the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches’ Hall of Fame in 2024. Photo credit: The Cedar Rapids Gazette

We are hot in the middle of baseball season, so how about shining a spotlight on an exceptional baseball coach today? One such coach is Brett Hoyer, a teacher and coach at John F. Kennedy High School located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Brett’s tenure as Head Baseball Coach at spans a total of 34 seasons. He has spent 31 of them at Kennedy. In addition, he has served the school as the Offensive Coordinator for the varsity football team. And he also teaches a variety of mathematics courses at the school.

The talented coach led his baseball team, whose mascot is the Cougars, to 14 state tournaments, and to the Class 4A State Championships four times over the past three decades. There his teams captured the first-place honors twice, in 2015 and in 2024.

Brett says his work with high school students, both in the classroom and on the field, is very rewarding. “I know some people dread their jobs, and I’m not one of those people,” he said in an 2014 interview. “I really enjoy working with young people, both in the mathematics classroom and certainly coaching. It makes it awfully easy to get out of bed in the morning and come to work,” he continued. His love for the job has been rewarded. For his work as a coach, Brett was inducted into the Iowa High School Baseball Association Coaches’ Hall of Fame in 2014.

After his graduation from Regina High School, Brett earned his Bachelor’s degree in Education at Wartburg College, a private liberal arts college located in Waverly, Iowa. He was in his junior year there when he made his decision to become a math teacher and athletic coach. He earned his Master’s degree at University of Iowa located in Iowa City. He retired in 2024 after a total of 36 years in the profession.

To learn more about Brett Hoyer, watch could watch this podcast interview of him posted on YouTube.

Jaime Suarez named the 2025 Florida State Teacher of the Year.

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Middle school teacher Jaime Suarez has been named the 2025 Florida State Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Jaime Suarez

Congratulations to Jaime Suarez, a middle school teacher from Spring Hills, Florida. She has been named her state’s 2025 Teacher of the Year! She was selected from five finalists. Altogether, more than 185,000 public school teachers from across the state were nominated.

Jaime teaches mathematics to sixth through eighth graders at the Challenger K-8 School of Science and Mathematics in Spring Hill. in a career that spans 13 years, she has taught at Challenger for four years.

“Each day, I focus on designing engaging and interactive lessons that not only help students grasp mathematical concepts but also encourage them to explore, question, and make connections,” declares Jaime. “I believe that math is more than just formulas—it’s about discovering patterns and solving problems creatively,” she continues. And her efforts have achieved remarkable results. In 2002-2003, algebra students in her class earned a 100% pass rate on their end-of-course assessment.
 
Jaime earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Troy University in Troy, Alabama, in 2004. She is a member of the National Council of both the Teachers of Mathematics and the National Association for Gifted Children.

In addition, Jaime has filled several leadership roles, including grade-level team lead, new teacher mentor, Math Field Day Coordinator and district science textbook selection committee member.

Jaime says she strongly believes in the importance of extracurricular activities for building relationships. To provide opportunities for extracurriculars, she established the Video Productions Club and the Rubik’s Cube Club on her campus, and she serves as the school’s cheerleading coach.

In addition to her recognition as the Teacher of the Year, Jaime received a $50,000 award from the state of Florida and a tuition waiver to pursue a graduate degree from the Florida State University College of Education. She will also receive a two-year Florida College scholarship from the Florida Prepaid College Savings Plan to present to a student of her choice. 

 

Meet Suborno Bari, said to be the world’s youngest professor

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Here is a video about a youngster who is said to be the world’s youngest professor. Meet Suborno Bari, a child prodigy and mathematics and science genius who became a university professor at just seven years old. He is now 12 years old, and this amazing young man is studying at New York University as a student after finishing high school in record time. Aside from the comments he makes about his experiences as both a student and as a teacher, his personal story is fascinating. This video is about eight minutes in length.