As the only eighth grade mathematics teacher in a PreK to 8 school, I sometimes question my methods and instructional decisions when planning my lessons: Are they developing a conceptual understanding of the mathematics taught? Is math becoming more meaningful to them? Receiving this award confirms for me that at least some of the methods I am using are effective tools for teaching mathematics.
Yvette Yamagata has taught mathematics in the middle grades for 5 years at Capitol Hill Day School. Previously, she taught at Maret School in Washington, DC, Langston Hughes Middle School in Fairfax, VA, and Hyde Park Middle School in Las Vegas, NV.
Yvette is an active member of her school community, meeting with mathematics students for both enrichment and remediation at biweekly after-school study sessions.
Yvette is a member of the school’s mathematics curriculum circle, focusing on articulation among the grades to prioritize and coordinate the teaching of mathematical concepts. She helped plan and participated in an informational meeting for parents, introducing them to the various methods used to teach multiplication to children in different grades. She also participates in the school’s professional development task force, assisting in the implementation of a faculty-based evaluation program.
Yvette has presented sessions on teaching practices at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference and the Progressive Education Network Conference.
Yvette has a B.S. in Mathematics Education from Brigham Young University–Hawaii and an M.S. for Teachers in Mathematics from the University of New Hampshire.
- 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
