Evansville, WY - Mathematics
To be honored as a Presidential Award winner has been a surreal and incredible experience. My remarkable students are the ultimate reason for the nomination and acceptance of this prestigious honor. Everything I do, I do because of these children. I've created a safe and orderly classroom community where students' opinions, questions, and explorations are valued as I empower the whole child. The award may have been awarded to me, but it is my students who made it possible.
Mrs. Radden examined mathematics achievement data and determined that the school needed to adopt a standards-based curriculum. An innovator, she is known for creating a learning community that supports each student in the classroom. A former winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching credited Mrs. Radden with superior knowledge of National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Curriculum Focal Points, Wyoming Department of Education standards and benchmarks, and Natrona County School District's Essential Curriculum. She uses these reports to prioritize necessary concepts and skills to demonstrate proficiency and advance mathematical thinking.
Mrs. Radden sets the learning process in motion by establishing high expectations for her students, from behavior to academics. Her interactive, hands-on lessons are complemented by goals set by the students, who identify their current level of knowledge in a subject area, what level of knowledge they want to have, and a plan for reaching that level. She poses higher-level questions about mathematics concepts, an approach that students adopt as they take ownership of their learning; students quickly begin to use various learning tools to make connections, solve problems, and communicate their thinking. Although most of Mrs. Radden's students are disadvantaged and considered at-risk, their mathematics assessment scores are among the highest in the district and the state.
Mrs. Radden has a B.A. in elementary education and a coaching certificate in volleyball and basketball from the University of Wyoming, where she graduated with honors. She has an M.S. in curriculum, instruction, and assessment from Walden University. She has also expanded her educational knowledge through continuing education classes. She is certified in elementary education, qualified in mathematics and science.
