Each Friday during the school year, we will spotlight one of our M3T Fellows. This week, let’s meet Jessica Theys from Wirt County Middle School!
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Jessica Theys
M3T Noyce Fellow – Cohort 1
Middle School Mathematics Teacher
Wirt County Middle School
Wirt County Schools
Twitter: @unowattheyssay
Number of years teaching: 8
Positions and Roles: 8th Grade Mathematics Teacher, STEM Makerspace Lead, Leadership Team, Wirt County High School Girls Basketball
Professional awards, distinctions, and points of pride: Wirt County Middle School Teacher of the Year 2019-2020
Interesting personal facts: Life is her 2 daughters (Charlotte and Allana), her 1 son (Davis), her Kindergarten sweetheart, her running buddy Nash, her 50 acres, her 15 cows, her 12 chickens, her pet deer and turkey, and her 22 basketball daughters
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Why are you excited to be part of the M3T project?
“A stream becomes stagnant when it stops moving. I do not want to become stagnant. M3T will push me and move me. There will be a direct correlation with my personal growth and the growth of those around me to form a raging river of learning for all stakeholders.”
Why do you teach mathematics?
“Mathematics is not only a subject but a way of thinking. My focus is to promote problem solving and critical thinking through perseverance and hard work. Numbers and symbols are the vehicle through which I communicate and teach these essential life skills.”
What are you focused on improving about mathematics teaching?
“Math is challenging. This is not a bad thing. Challenge often gets a negative connotation but I hope to help change the feelings of fear and anxiety many have when hearing “math” to curiosity, determination and desire to master. Challenge is a positive!”
Final Thoughts:
The most exciting part of M3T for me is the opportunity to network with teachers throughout the state and share ideas. It has been a great opportunity to build up my teacher toolbox of techniques, ideas, approaches and more that ultimately impact my students who are the most important part of this equation!
Spotlight Tweet:
Check in each week on #M3TFellowFriday throughout the school year to meet another M3T Fellow. You can find a listing of all of the M3T Fellows and stay up-to-date with the work of the M3T network at our website, https://m3twv.org. You can also follow us on Twitter, @m3t_wv.