Math Contest Coach's Award

The North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics accepts nominations for the State Math Contest Coach's Award each year. The purpose of this award is to recognize and reward an individual who has made an outstanding and noteworthy contribution to mathematics education and NCCTM by having formed, coached, or sponsored teams or groups of students in mathematics competitions. Any NCCTM member may submit nominations by August 1 of each year. 
 
 
Questions? Contact Ana Floyd, Asheboro City Schools [afloyd@asheboro.k12.nc.us].

2023 Recipient

Amanda Gerken, Hickory Public Schools

Karen McPherson and Amanda GerkenPrior to entering her role as AIG specialist, Amanda was a Math 1/8th grade math teacher at Northview Middle School. In that role she cultivated a love of math in her students, encouraged competitive problem solving and inspired students’ love of competition throughout their high school career. While at Northview Middle, her teams consistently ranked in the top 5 places at MathCounts and earned top places at the ASU Level 1 and Lenoir-Rhyne Level 2 contests.

Not only does Amanda cultivate a love of mathematics in her students, she cultivates it in her colleagues as well. One nominator (from a school in the same school system) remarked that Amanda encouraged her to create teams at her own school. Now, even in her current position as AIG specialist, Amanda strives to make both middle schools in her system equally competitive in as many math contests as possible. She meets weekly with groups of students from each grade level at each school who are interested in competing. She makes the practices fun and competitive. The students love these meetings!  Even though the two school teams compete against each other, she always promotes that in the end they are “one team” from Hickory Public Schools, and they cheer each other’s successes.


Previous Recipients

2019 John Noland, Cary Academy

A Message From Our President

Karen McPherson
High School Mathematics Coach
Buncombe County Schools

You have the power to change the future of Mathematics Teaching in North Carolina.

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NCCTM Statement on Equitable Access to Quality Mathematics Instruction

Students need to experience mathematics in ways that allow them to be successful and that give them the power to change the world. This experience needs to be delivered with both excellence and equality while resonating with the lives of Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian, and all marginalized peoples. Racism cannot be tolerated, and we as teachers must be vigilant that we do not tolerate nor contribute to racism, bias, hate, or violence in our classrooms.

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