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VUHS Teacher Wins 2009 VCTM Mathematics Teaching Award

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Tuesday March 24, 2009

By Cookie Steponaitis

    VUHS Mathematics Teacher and department coordinator Nancy Ambrose was in Mrs. Fisher’s fifth grade class when it first crossed her mind that she and numbers were destined to share the future. “It made sense to me,” she commented, “and I actually remember thinking to myself that it would be part of what I did in the future.” Quick to credit many teachers in her life, Nancy points to Mrs. Fisher at VUES and Evie Burke at VUHS for influencing her career path and future. “Evie Burke was a huge factor in my decision and development not only as a student, but as a department head and colleague. Through her guidance I evolved not only as a person, but as a teacher and colleague.”

    Nancy is in her 29th year of teaching mathematics and indicated that many changes have occurred in her tenure at VUHS.  Nancy remarked, “It is definitely different than when I started teaching. The teaching of mathematics has changed and I think it is for the better. Because of VMI, I can help my children the correct way to see connections. My Masters Program allows me to see the continuum of teaching the skills at a lower level and we can bring it up through the middle and high school.”

    While Nancy thinks that everyone can learn how to be successful with math, there are those on the faculty, that even as adults classify mathematics as one of their greatest fears. When jokingly asked what she would do with the non-believers and those who say that they can’t learn it, Nancy reflected on it being more about technique in surmounting those fears. “ I think because there is a right or wrong answer and some people have been taught tricks and do not have a conceptual understanding to fall back on to think it through or logically reason it out,” she remarked.

    While Nancy’s world revolves around numbers, there is one number which is definitely her favorite. In 1997, she became the proud parent of triplets Dana, K.C., and April and took considerable ribbing from her colleagues about the exponent three applying to math, but not necessarily the birthing process. With the typical smile and calm demeanor that has guided over 1,000 students through the world of mathematics, Nancy simply kept it all in perspective and reminds us all that, “Mathematics is a universal language. Once learned, you can use it anywhere and in any culture.”

    Mrs. Ambrose will be recognized for her outstanding contribution as a teacher of Mathematics in Vermont on March 19th at St. Michael’s College, 12:00-1:00 pm. While the accolades and plaques are well deserved, the students, faculty and staff of VUHS have known an equation for success for a long time. Mathematics + Nancy Ambrose = Excellence that spans 29 years and counting. Congratulations from the Valley Voice Staff and the VUHS community both past, present and future.

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