It is an amazing honor to even be considered for such an award. Teaching is a profession of individuals who make daily sacrifices not for personal recognition but for student success. I am proud to be a part of this profession. Every day, week, and year I form new and meaningful relationships with my students, and we embark on a journey towards reaching their potential. This award recognizes the power and impact of those moments on them and me.
Mike Patterson has been with the Clark County School District for the past 10 years. He currently teaches Geometry and Trigonometry at Advanced Technologies Academy.
Mike integrates technology into the classroom through the use of Geometer’s Sketchpad and a website he created, e-zgeometry.com. These technologies are used to reinforce concepts and provide support for struggling students. Since Mike created e-zgeometry.com in 1999, it has grown into a nationally recognized site with thousands of users.
Mike has incorporated several of his personal interests into his classroom as innovative teaching methods, such as using board games to teach logic and spatial thinking. The games are engaging to students and help them visualize mathematical concepts. Mike has presented his innovative teaching techniques at conferences at the local, regional, and national levels.
Mike is currently on the District Test Writing Committee and is a lead teacher for a mathematics/science integration grant. He created the Play it Forward Grant, which provides Clark County School District teachers with money to buy board games for use in teaching.
Mike has a B.Ed. from the University of Alberta (Canada) and a master's degree in Mathematics Education from the University of Georgia.
- High-resolution version of the official portrait photograph
- Awardee holding Presidential citation between the Director of the National Science Foundation, Dr. Subra Suresh and the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Dr. John P. Holdren
- High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph
