Each Friday during the school year, we will spotlight one of our M3T Fellows. This week, let’s meet Annie Vopal from Warwood School!
Annie Vopal
M3T Noyce Fellow – Cohort 2
Middle School Mathematics Teacher
Warwood School
Ohio County Schools
Twitter: @anners_v
Number of years teaching: 9
Positions and Roles: 6th and 7th Grade Math Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, After-School Tutor, Future City Coach, Student Government Advisor
Professional awards, distinctions, and points of pride: Is a WVDE math4life presenter, is a recipient of a math4life Educator Grant, was Warwood Lions Club Teacher of the Year in 2019
Interesting personal facts: She enjoys gardening, crocheting, walking, hiking, and yoga; her husband, George, is a math instructor at West Liberty University; they have three cats– Samson, Duncan, and Sherlock
Why are you excited to be part of the M3T project?
“I am looking forward to working with others who share a passion for math education. I am interested in learning about best practices and collaborating with others. I am excited to begin this journey to help me become a better educator, colleague, and leader.”
Why do you teach mathematics?
“I want my students to develop an appreciation for mathematics and understand the connections between it and patterns, logic, nature, and more. I also want to help students overcome their fears and dislike of math and help them become confident mathematical thinkers.”
What are you focused on improving about mathematics teaching?
“I want math education to move away from a focus on memorization, speed, and solving algorithms. Instead, I want mathematics teaching to help students develop a strong number sense, problem solving strategies, and allow students opportunities to think critically and creatively.”
Final Thoughts:
“I am so grateful for M3T! I love being part of a network of like-minded math folks who continuously work to improve themselves and others in order to create a more engaging math classroom for students. I have grown so much as a math educator during my first year with M3T and look forward to the years to come!”
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.
