Region: IV (9-12)

School: Billings Senior High School

Education Background:

Mathematics Education (bachelors), School Counseling (masters), Curriculum & Instruction (not yet finished)

Teaching Experience:

I'm in my 17th year of teaching high school mathematics and have taught in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky before returning to Montana to my alma mater. I'm really fortunate to still love what I do and be able to engage minds everyday in experiencing mathematics.

Current Teaching:

Math - Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Sports Stats, AP Stats

Activities in MCTM:

Served on the Board from 2016-2019, have been a member since moving back to Montana in 2012. Have been to M3 a couple of times - it is great! I have also helped host the MCTM math contest at Senior before. And I've attended a few NCTM conferences - lots of learning! I have also presented a few times at the MFPE annual conference.

Other Information:

I am excited to be involved more and serve Montana math teachers! I guess I should mention some other areas I may have met some of the teachers around the state. I've also participated in a few grant opportunities over the years: STREAM, MSP-LEAD, Montana Math Teachers Circles, and I worked with CCSSO & rural states to develop math educator PD. I have also worked with OPI on various projects: STAR test standards mapping, ACT, developing IEFA lessons, and writing & administering courses on the Learning Hub.

What Positive Trait Would You Bring to the MCTM Board?

I bring a love of learning and an attitude of problem solving. When met with challenges or situations with unknowns, I like to figure out how to think creatively to find solutions.

What Role Should MCTM Take in Montana Mathematics?

I really would like to see MCTM be the hub for Montana math teachers. We can feel so spread out in this big state, but it is helpful to get to know one another and be connected to other great math teachers putting in the good work.

Region: II (9-12)

School: Great Falls Central Catholic High School

Education Background:

Bachelor's Degree in  Mathematics from MSU Bozeman, Master's Degree Technology in Education, Cambridge University

Teaching Experience:

30.5 years teaching for Great Falls Public Schools: 27 years in high school mathematics, 3 years in adult ed, 0.5 years in middle school math intervention. Currently retired from GFPS and teaching high school math for Great Falls Central Catholic High School. I also have 25 years of experience teaching at the university level including all math classes, statistics, and methods classes.

Current Teaching:

9-12 High School

Activities in MCTM:

Regional Director for the Math Contest for many, many years. I also served on the board from 2020-2023. 

Other Information:

I am a National Board Certified Teacher and have taught many PIR classes in the Great Falls District. 

What Positive Trait Would You Bring to the MCTM Board?

I simply love math and everything about it! Better yet, I love teachers! My passion is helping as many students as I can by helping as many teachers as I can. 

What Role Should MCTM Take in Montana Mathematics?

We should support and inspire teachers. 

Region: V

School: Custer County High School

Education Background:

I got my bachelor's degree in mathematics from Montana Tech and my master's degree in statistics from Oregon State University. I then ended up deciding to teach and got my education credits from Montana State University.

Teaching Experience:

I have been teaching math for 20 years, primarily at the high school level, though for 2 years I taught 7-12 math. I have been at my current position for the last 16 years teaching Algebra 2, Precalculus, and Calculus (and sometimes basic Statistics).

Current Teaching:

High School Algebra 2, Precalculus, and Calculus 

Activities in MCTM:

I have been a member of the MCTM board for the last 3 years and I have participated in many of the professional development opportunities that MCTM has provided, including M-cubed and the Montana Math Circles.

What Positive Trait Would You Bring to the MCTM Board?

I believe that I have a level head and a positive attitude. 

What Role Should MCTM Take in Montana Mathematics?

MCTM should continue to provide learning opportunities for teachers. Also continue to provide students with the chance to compete for scholarships at the annual math competition.

Region: I (9-12)

School: Corvallis High School

Education Background:

BS Mathematics and MS Math Education (Both at Oregon State University)

Teaching Experience:

I have taught in Corvallis since 2003.  For several years, I taught split between the middle school and high school, but since 2020, I have been back to full time at CHS.  Like many teachers at small schools in MT, I have taught classes from pre algebra to AP Calculus BC.  I am the department chair.  I also work closely with the support staff to get struggling math students the help they need to be successful.  This year I am also the scholarship coordinator for our school and am helping with academic advising graduating class by graduating class.  I am the National Honor Society advisor and head girls soccer coach.

Current Teaching:

Math Teacher (AP Calc AB, AP Calc BC, Precalculus DC, Geometry)

Activities in MCTM:

I am the director of the MCTM Missoula Regional Math Contest.  This allows me to work with a great team of mathy adults to create an awesome experience for about 30 local middle and high schools with attendance at about 800 students each Feb (post COVID) at the University of Montana.  One of the parts that I take on with the contest is reaching out to schools to find current math teachers.  There can be a lot of turnover with math teachers in MT, so it is always a bit of a job to the right teachers to organize the kids into teams.  I think it is important though to keep attendance high - it allows us to award three scholarships to our seniors.  It also gives the most students possible access to the university campus.  I was also able to go to Billings last spring to work on revamping the contest.

What Positive Trait Would You Bring to the MCTM Board?

I am a hopeful person - I will try on a project or student even if it doesn't look like success is in the cards.  (Maybe this time it will work out!)  I like to stay on task and get things done.  I am not scared off by big projects.  I like to break big tasks into smaller manageable ones - eat the elephant one bite at a time.  And even if a problem looks too big for me to solve, I like to think that my small piece matters.  I can't throw all the sea stars back into the ocean that are stuck on the beach, but it can mean the world to the couple that I can throw back.  I want to give kids of Montana the most opportunities possible, and I think a huge part of that is education and specifically math education.  To give that to the kids, we need to make sure that there are math teachers that are being supported and provided professional development opportunities.  If my membership on this board can help with that, I am all in.

What Role Should MCTM Take in Montana Mathematics?

I have been directly affected by MCTM's role in the regional and state math contest.  On top of that, it looks like MCTM is a great resource for math teachers of Montana with professional development opportunities in the summer and during MEA days.  We would hopefully be a help to finding and keeping great math educators in our state.  I would also hope that the state of MT would use MCTM as a resource when building curriculum for our state.  We are the experts in the field, so we need to mentor the next generation and guide the direction that our schools are legislated by the state.