Tag Archives: Math Teachers

Teachers who specialized in math.

Hawaii’s Michael Ida named his state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year

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Secondary math teacher Michael Ida of Honolulu, Hawaii, has been named his state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Hawaii News Now

There are many excellent educators throughout our country who are deserving of recognition. One of them is Michael Ida from Hawaii, a secondary math teacher who has been named his state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

In a career that has spanned 26 years, Michael has taught all of them at  Kalani High School in Honolulu, where he conducts courses in mathematics and computer science. He also serves as the Chairperson for the Mathematics Department, as an Academic Review Team member, and as a club advisor. He spearheaded the development of the computer science program at Kalani High. And as if all the were not enough, he also leads technology-related professional development sessions for his school faculty.

Michael has a reputation for being a lifelong learner and for being dedicated to the service of others. “He goes above and beyond for not only his students, but for any staff member that needs help,” asserts Kalani High Principal Mitch Otani. “During the pandemic, he was the one that was helping people with all the technology and everything else. He’s one that is always there to help and support anyone,” Otani continues.

In addition to his work with students, Michael serves on the leadership teams of the Hawaii Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Hawaii chapter of the Computer Science Teachers Association, and the Hawaii National Board Certified Teachers Collective. He also serves as an accreditation visiting team member for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and as an exam reader for Advanced Placement Calculus.

Michael earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Applied Mathematics from the California Institute of Technology in 1991. He earned his Master’s degree and a PhD in applied mathematics from Northwestern University in 1995. He also earned a Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Boston College in 1996. Additionally, he was recognized as a National Board Certified Teacher in Adolescent/Young Adult Mathematics in 2004.

To read more about Michael Ida, click on this link to a story about him published by the Hawaii State Department of Education.

Louisiana teacher Maura Lewis featured on local news station

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Here is a story about Maura Lewis, an exceptional teacher from Woodlawn Middle School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She teaches Algebra, computer science, and STEM to seventh and eighth graders. Maura was recently named exceptional educator by her local television news station, WVLA NBC Local 33, and BRProud. She was featured on a recent segment on the television network.

Congratulations, Maura!

Colorado teacher Tiffany Miera garners 2022-2023 Milken Award

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Colorado elementary teacher Tiffany Miera has garnered a prestigious 2022-2023 Milken Educator Award. Photo Credit: Milken Educator Awards

There are many exceptional teachers working in our nation’s schools who are deserving of recognition. One of these is Tiffany Miera, an elementary school teacher from Durango, Colorado. She has garnered a prestigious 2022-2023 Milken Educator Award.

The Milken Educator Awards have been described by Teacher Magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” In addition to a $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 3,000 exemplary teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who work towards strengthening best practices in education. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.

Tiffany teaches mathematics to fifth graders a Needham Elementary School. Her connection to the school is a long one—she attended the school herself when she was a child, and she has devoted her entire 14-year teaching career to the school.

The honored educator, who has also taught special education, continuously strives to build the foundational math skills that her students need to be successful. In fact, as a result of her efforts, Needham’s fifth graders have risen from 25.4% proficiency in 2019 to 42.9% in 2022, outperforming both the district and state. “I teach because I love to see my kids grow and learn,” Tiffany declares. “When I see my students achieve, I’m so proud of them, because I know how hard they worked to get there.”

Tiffany is not only a leader in her classroom, but she is also a leader on her campus and in her school district. She serves on Needham’s instructional leadership, math curriculum, cultural, and gifted and talented committees. In addition, she has led professional development for elementary math colleagues and she mentors new hires and student teachers.

Tiffany earned her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and English as a Second Language from Fort Lewis College in 2008. She earned her Master’s degree in Special Education from Grand Canyon University in 2014, and a second Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 2022.

LA elem teacher Stephanie Gullage garnered prestigious 2020 PAEMST

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Elementary school mathematics teacher Stephanie Gullage garnered a prestigious PAEMST in 2020. Photo credit: 4WWLTV

Many exceptional educators have earned recognition for their work. One of these is Stephanie Gullage, an elementary school teacher from Luling, Louisiana, who has garnered a prestigious 2020 PAEMST award.

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 $10,000 cash prize.

Stephanie’s career as an educator has spanned 29 years. During that time, she has taught many subjects, primarily mathematics. For 11 years, she taught numerous subjects at Marrero Christian Academy. She taught sixth grade reading and mathematics for one year at McDonogh 32 Elementary School. She instructed courses in basic mathematics for one summer as an adjunct professor at Delgado Community College. She also taught Gifted/Academy English Language Arts and mathematics for 17 years at R.K. Smith Middle School.

While employed at Smith Middle, Stephanie completed stints as the Chair of the Mathematics Department, the Improving Student Learning cadre, and the School Improvement Team. In fact, she was teaching Gifted/Academy Mathematics at the time she garnered her PAEMST. In July 2020, Stephanie accepted a position as the Instructional Facilitator for Gifted, Talented, and the Arts for St. Charles Parish Schools, but still taught gifted enrichment in grades one, two, five, and Algebra 1 eLearning.

For her work in the classroom, Stephanie has earned many accolades. She was named the District Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2018, and in 2019, she was named an American Petroleum Institute Distinguished Teacher.  Stephanie has also presented at the Louisiana Association of Teachers of Mathematics and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) conventions and participated in the “Digital Tools and Mathematical Modelling in Mathematics” Institute at the University of Würzburg in Germany.

Stephanie earned her Bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in Elementary Education from Southern University in New Orleans. She earned her Master’s degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Gifted and Talented from the University of New Orleans. She is currently working on her Ph.D. She has also earned her National Board Certification in Early Adolescence Mathematics.

Jr high teacher Geraldine Darden became 14th African American to earn a doctorate in math

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Former junior high school teacher Geraldine Darden of Virginia became the 14th African American in the country to earn a doctorate in mathematics. Photo credit:Black Women in Mathematics

Many extraordinary educators make a mark in areas other than teaching. This is certainly the case with junior high school math teacher Geraldine Claudette Darden, who became the 14th African American in the country to earn a doctorate in mathematics.

Geraldine was born on July 22, 1936, in Nansemond County, Virginia. She attended segregated Black public schools in her county. By all accounts she was a very good student. After high school graduation, she enrolled at the Hampton Institute, a historically African-American institution of higher learning, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1957 and her Master’s degree in 1960. She also earned a Master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Ubana Champaign, and a PhD from Syracuse University. In fact, this remarkable educator was the 14th African American in the United States to earn a PhD in mathematics.

Geraldine accepted her first teaching position at S.H. Clarke Junior High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1957. In the summer of 1958, she saw a unique opportunity for aspiring mathematicians when the Russians launched the satelllite Sputnik, an event that spurred a national interest in mathematics and science. She applied for and received a National Science Foundation grant to attend the Summer Institute in Mathematics held at North Carolina Central University. There she met Marjorie Lee Browne, the mathematician who directed the Institute, who encouraged Geraldine to go on to graduate school at Syracuse.

After earning her degrees, Geraldine became strongly interested in mathematics education at the high school and college level. So, in addition to teaching, this Chalkboard Champion co-wrote selected papers on pre-calculus with acclaimed textbook authors Tom Apostol, Gulbank D. Chakerian, and John D. Neff.