Algebra for Everybody

My first teaching job was in Fort Worth, TX as an algebra 1 and 2 teacher. New teachers need much encouragement and support because teaching in a public school can be very overwhelming and discouraging at times. In 2003, I taught at Little Rock Central High School. It was both an honor and privilege because they were a plethora of professional development opportunity for to refine my skills and to better connect and reach my students. Implementing lessons that rich in both skills and content can be very time consuming but also rewarding. Fortunately, as I grew as a teacher, I also grew as a person. Teaching has nothing to do with me but how can best serve my students. This is finding the balance with effective and classroom management and well delivered instruction coupled with compassion, understanding, motivation, support, correction and encouragement. Everyone is not equipped to carry out such a task. In 2008, I taught at Garland High School in Garland, TX. In 2013, I resigned to return home to support and encourage my family and serve my community the way I have been teaching for years. There is a more profound calling than working within the confines of the educational system, but how use my God given gifts and talents to inspire and encourage a community so they can teach, support and encourage others.

I have been a teacher most of life. Teaching is not something you do but a person you develop into. I started teaching right out of college, ready to change the world. I soon realized that being a teacher is more than just math, but building relationships and searching for the best strategies and/or methods to transfer the knowledge in my mind in such a way that the students understand it and use it with confidence. I took the time to learn student names, to understand their strengths and weaknesses and to devise a plan to best help them reach their full potential. Utilizing and writing activities that incorporates reading, vocabulary, skill building, content and reflections builds and caters to all the educational needs of students.

2013 Elite Bronze Book Publisher 2012 National Association of Professional Women Woman of the Year Publisher Author, "Algebra for the Urban Student" May 2012 2011 Garland NAACP Educator of the Year

In August 2005, I received my Masters of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas. In May 2001, I received my Bachelors of Science in Education in Mathematics from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

I grew up in the small town of Brinkley, Arkansas that had a population of roughly 5,000 people. I have been a teacher since I was 12 years old. I started playing the piano at the age of 6. My skills advanced rather quickly so my parents allowed me to give piano lessons to earn some money in addition to the allowance I was receiving. As a junior in high school, I was a first grade tutor in reading and mathematics. In college I tutored students in math, biology, English and study skills. I have been a high school teacher for 14 years now. I have taught middle school, high school, college and on the university level. My forte in high school was mathematics. Mathematics came easy to me, and I helped my friends with their homework. My first passion was music but I soon realized that by majoring in mathematics would make me be more marketable with a degree in mathematics verses a degree in music. While completing my undergraduate work at Arkansas State University, I had a job as a Student Support Services tutor. I was able to make my own schedule and set my own hours. I loved teaching college students! That is when I knew I wanted to be a college instructor. However, instead of continuing with my education, I decided to get a job as a high school teacher so I could acquire some work experience. In the summer of 2008, I moved to Garland to teach at Garland High School. I have been blessed with the opportunity to be Program Administrator for Project Educating and Diversifying to Grow Exponentially (EDGE). Helping students become more competent and confident in mathematics has been a passion of mine for several years now. My vision for educating children in mathematics is that “every child is capable to mastering mathematics. In order for mastery to be achieved, students must be provided with meaningful learning experiences; an opportunity to conceptualize and internalize the mathematics, and to experience a progression through mathematics that is related to their prior knowledge” ~ Canaa Lee