Charlotte, NC - Mathematics
The Presidential Award is a prodigious honor for me personally and professionally while at the same time being a humbling experience. From elementary school instruction, evolve children's grasp and passion for mathematics. The intricacies of mathematical thinking are nourished or stifled at this critical period of development. An effective math teacher embraces mathematics instruction with a passion, laying the groundwork for future success by her students. It is these math teachers I represent.
Mrs. Conroy believes that there is more to teaching mathematics than giving her students problems to solve. Working together, her students ponder, discuss, and struggle with the concepts and principles of a solution, rather than memorizing the answer. Mrs. Conroy helps gifted students learn to think their way through a problem. In one instance Mrs. Conroy asked students to compare Egyptian and Chinese number systems with the familiar Hindu-Arabic number system and develop their own number system incorporating the essential elements from each.
When Mrs. Conroy is working with struggling students, she discerns where they lack understanding and presents concepts in ways that make sense to each student. Through manipulatives such as learning fractions from pizza slices, she observes which students need additional or alternative exercises. She never lets struggling students quit, and she never quits on them.
A role model for colleagues, Mrs. Conroy is always interested in learning and sharing ideas. She takes the time to listen to other teachers' problems and offer new solutions. Mrs. Conroy has received numerous awards and honors, including the Teacher of the Year award at Mountain Park Elementary School in 1986 and at Providence Spring Elementary School in 2007.
Mrs. Conroy has a B.S. in psychology from St. Lawrence University and an M.S. in elementary education from Georgia State University. She is National Board Certified in elementary education and is certified in gifted education.
