14 KC area math teachers receive awards of up to $10K for outstanding education
LAWRENCE — The Jedel Family Foundation has announced the recipients of this year’s Jedel Excellence in Mathematics Education Awards. The winners exemplify innovation, mentorship and service in elementary and secondary mathematics teaching. Over the last two weeks, these teachers were notified with surprise announcements during virtual staff gatherings, which were also attended by superintendents, district media, and their families and friends.
“These extraordinary mathematics teachers demonstrate what it means to facilitate meaningful mathematical discourse among students, support productive struggle and develop positive relationships that encourage mathematical thinking and learning,” said Katrina Rothrock, director of the Jedel Excellence in Mathematics Education awards program. “We are appreciative of the opportunity the Jedel Family Foundation has provided to recognize and support excellence in math teaching throughout Kansas City.”
Each recipient receives a monetary award, trophy and an invitation to join the Jedel Excellence in Mathematics Fellowship of Mathematics Educators next year.
$10,000 Integral Award Recipients:
Kayci Buttress, Eastgate Sixth Grade Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Nina Pulatie, Clardy Elementary School, Kansas City, Missouri
$5,000 Exponential Award Recipients:
Erica Barrows, Bell Prairie Elementary School, Kansas City, Missouri
Jessica Dierking, Grain Valley South Middle School, Grain Valley, Missouri
$1,000 Prime Award Recipients:
Elizabeth Baird, Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy, Kansas City, Missouri
Danelle Barnett, Blue Springs South High School, Blue Springs, Missouri
Will Dunn, Basehor-Linwood High School, Basehor
Josiah Enyart, Comanche Elementary School, Overland Park
Kristin Haussmann, Delta Woods Middle School, Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Carissa Hunerdosse, Antioch Middle School, Gladstone, Missouri
Kelly Lee, Blue Springs High School, Blue Springs, Missouri
Lauren Mehner, Eastgate Sixth Grade Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Machelle Minter, Gashland Elementary School, Kansas City, Missouri
Sam Rockford, St. James Academy, Lenexa
The award winners were determined following a rigorous selection process that required applicants to submit essays discussing their knowledge and application of pedagogical practices used to strengthen students’ understanding of mathematics. The finalists’ teaching abilities were evaluated to determine the winners by observing the teachers in their classroom.
The Jedel Excellence in Mathematics Education Awards are bestowed to recognize exemplary K-12 math teaching in the Greater Kansas City area. Established by the Jedel Family Foundation in 2018 in collaboration with the KU Center for STEM Learning, the awards recognize those that implement innovative instructional practices and strategies to strengthen student understanding of mathematics. Awardees serve as leaders for their schools and ambassadors of mathematics for their community.
Nominations for next year’s award will be accepted beginning Sept. 1. Teachers, principals and school faculty are encouraged to nominate exceptional mathematics teachers from their schools for the award. Mathematics teachers who have at least three years of teaching experience from schools located in Platte, Clay, Jackson and Cass counties in Missouri as well as Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Johnson and Douglas counties in Kansas are eligible for the award.
For more information, like Jedel Excellence in Mathematics Education on Facebook.