Tag Archives: Math Teachers

RI STEM teacher Elizabeth “Liz” Patterson wins prestigious award

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Rhode Island STEM teacher Elizabeth “Liz” Patterson has been named the 2023 Carol Giuriceo Computer Science Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Computer Science 4 Rhode Island

I am always eager to share the story of an exceptional educator who is working in one of our nation’s public schools. Today, I shine the spotlight on Elizabeth Patterson, a high school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) teacher from Portsmouth, Rhode Island. She was named the 2023 Dr. Carol Giurica Computer Science Teacher of the Year.

The annual award traces it’s origin back to 2021, when the Rhode Island Computer Science (CS) Teacher of the Year Award was established in honor of educator Dr. Carol Giuriceo, a frontrunner and champion of Computer Science instruction throughout the state of Rhode Island. Carol was passionate about including a variety of perspectives in all areas of her work. The award recognizes teachers who embody and advance the impact of Carol’s work through collaboration, leadership, and innovation. Elizabeth Patterson, who was actually a participant in the team that worked closely with Carol to develop the Rhode Island State Computer Science standards, is certainly a worthy candidate for the award. Liz has a history of advocating vociferously for Computer Science in her school and district, which has led to increased opportunities for all Portsmouth students to engage in and further pursue computer science.

Elizabeth, who prefers to be called “Liz”, teaches STEM courses at Portsmouth High School. She teaches Math, Computer Science, and Advanced Placement Computer Science. In her courses, Liz includes lessons on Java, video game development, and computer science principles. In 2014, she advised a team of 10 students from her school as they participated in a computer competition run by the US Air Force to help combat cyberterrorism. Acting as a team, the students worked to discover such threats as malware, password violations, and unnecessary services as part of the CyberPatriot Defense Program.

To learn more about Elizabeth Patterson or Dr. Carol Giurica, click here.

NYC STEM teacher Laginne Walker garnered 2024 Sloan Award

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New York City STEM educator Laginne Walker of New York has garnered a 2024 Sloan Award for Excellence in Teaching Science and Mathematics. Photo Credit: Fund for the City of New York

It is always my pleasure to shine a spotlight on exceptional educators who have earned honors for their work in the classroom. One of these is Laginne Walker, a STEM teacher from New York City. She has garnered a 2024 Sloan Award for Excellence in Teaching Science and Mathematics.

Laginne teaches STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses in Algebra and Computer Science at the Bronx Engineering and Technology Academy. She has worked there for the pat seven years. The school, founded in 2004, was originally funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, but currently is funded with public school monies.

Laginne was raised in a home characterized by diversity and a strong sense of social justice. Her mother, an occupational therapist, emphasized the value of education, while her father, from a military family, taught her the importance of hard work. As a young woman, Laginne attended Lick-Wilmerding, a private high school in San Francisco that enrolled students from diverse backgrounds. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Wesleyan in 2001. She earned her first Master’s degree in Mathematics Education from Brooklyn College in 2006, and a second Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Pace University in 2007.

As a Master Teacher at Math for America, Laginne has both organized and participated in professional development workshops and courses. Through her hard work and self-determination, she became competent in computer science, which enabled her to create computer science courses for students and establish a computer science curriculum for the school where she teaches.

In addition to her Sloan Award, Laginne has earned several other accolades. She was honored with the UFT Excellence in Education Award for High School in 2020; she was named a FLAG Award for Teaching Excellence semi-finalist in 2020; and she received an honorable mention for the Greater New York City NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Educator Award from the National Center for Women & Information Technology in 2020. In 2019, she garnered a UFT Champions of Computer Science Award.

To learn more, view this three-minute You Tube video.

Math teacher Toru Kumon developed a learning system now used worldwide

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Japanese math teacher Toru Komon developed a learning system and tutoring program that has helped millions of students worldwide. Photo Credit: Kumon Institute of Education

Have you ever had a student who was enrolled in a Kumon tutoring center? These centers are immensely popular and extremely successful in helping students improve their academic skills. But did you know the learning system taught in these tutoring centers were developed by a Japanese math teacher named Toru Kumon?

Toru was born on March 26, 1914, in Kochi Prefecture, Japan. As a young man, he earned his degree in Mathematics from the College of Science at Osaka University. He then established a vigorous career as a high school math teacher in Osaka.

Despite his success as a professional educator, Toru discovered that his own son, Takeshi, was struggling to keep up in his own math class. In response, Toru conducted a careful examination of the boy’s textbooks, and came to the conclusion that the books failed to provide adequate opportunities for independent practice. To counter this, Toru designed a series of worksheets for Takeshi. Before long, Toru saw significant improvement in his son’s progress. After that, the teacher began using the strategy to tutor other children around the city.

By 1955, he established his first learning center, and in 1968, Toru retired from teaching to focus on his rapidly expanding educational service, which spread to the United States in 1974. The Kumon Learning System is designed to strengthen a student’s basic math and language skills by completing worksheets tailored to a student’s ability. The method also encourages students to learn independently and to study advanced material beyond their grade level. Even though Toru’s tutoring system emphasizes strategies considered old-fashioned by today’s standards, his Kumon Centers have enrolled millions of students around the world.

Sadly, Toru Kumon passed away in Osaka on July 25, 1995, from pneumonia. He was 81 years old. In his honor, the Toru Kumon museum was founded in Osaka. An asteroid, 3569 Kumon, was named after him. Additionally, the Kumon Foundation Day is celebrated each year on Oct. 20.

Albert Bryant honored by Missouri Council of Teachers of Math

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Math teacher Albert Bryant has been recognized as the 2023 Outstanding High School Mathematics Educator by the Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Photo credit: Ozark School District

It is always my pleasure to share the story of an outstanding teacher. Today, I share the story of Albert Bryant, a teacher from Missouri who has been recognized as the 2023 Outstanding High School Mathematics Educator by the Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM).

The annual award is given to teachers who engage students in mathematics, and recognizes individuals who have given time, energy and expertise to benefit and promote math. “It feels great to be recognized,” Albert confesses. “MCTM recognizes a lot of great math teachers. I wasn’t expecting to be among them.”

Albert teaches math in the Ozark Public School District, which serves a rural community in the town of Ozark. The district serves a total of about 6,000 students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve. He has been teaching there for eleven years. And he is obviously an inspirational educator. “I love math,” Albert says. “I recognize the patterns and enjoy helping and working with others to facilitate their mathematical journey,” he continues. He also serves his district as the Industrial Engineering Technology Academy Leader. He says he enjoys working with computers and coding, both databases and web-apps.

Albert earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, in 2011. He earned his Master’s degree in Instructional Design and Technology from the American College of Education in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2016.

Ohio teacher Dave Kennat perishes in horrific school bus accident

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Members of the academic community in Ohio are mourning the loss of high school mathematics teacher Dave Kennat. He perished in a horrific school bus accident on Nov. 14. Dave taught at Tuscarawa Valley High School in Zoarville. Photo credit: Solid Rock Photos

Members of the academic community in Ohio are mourning the loss of high school mathematics teacher Dave Kennat. He passed away in a horrific school bus accident on Tues., Nov. 14. The beloved educator lived in Navarre and taught at Tuscarawa Valley High School in Zoarville, Ohio, for the past 31 years. He was 56 years old.

The horrific accident also claimed the lives of three students and two parent chaperones. According to police authorities, the accident occurred when the charter bus the students were traveling in was hit by a commercial semitrailer traveling in the same direction. The adults were following the bus, and were in one of five vehicles that were also involved in the crash.

Dave instructed courses in College Placement Algebra II, Algebra II, and Introduction to Microsoft Office. “I take my mathematical thinking with me to every endeavor and believe that problem solving is one of the most important traits a person can have,” Dave once remarked. “I hope I can impart a sense of problem solving to my students as this may be the most important lesson they learn,” he continued.

In addition to his work in the classroom, Dave also served his school as the Ski Club Advisor. He once confessed that he thinks about skiing all year, and hoped to share this passion with his students. He also enjoyed camping, hiking,kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and gardening.

Dave also volunteered at Wanake Camp and Retreat Center in Beach City, Ohio, for 33 years. There he worked as a counselor, assistant director, photographer, and videographer.

The fallen educator will be sorely missed by students at the school. “I always loved him in class. He was always super energetic, made class fun. Really just an easy guy to talk to,” recalls student John Leffler, a senior. “Really unfortunate that he’s not going to be there anymore,” Leffler continues.

Dave earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, in 1989. He earned his Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction of Computer Science in 1999 from Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio, 1999.

Our sincerest condolences to family, friends, and colleagues of all those who passed away and all those who were injured.