It’s that special time of year when we come together to celebrate the educators who help shape our students' lives—Teacher Appreciation Week! At Mathnasium, we’re proud to support teachers all year long, and this May, we’re putting a spotlight on all the ways they go above and beyond.
The best teachers add confidence, subtract frustration, multiply curiosity, and divide learning into steps anyone can follow. They're the secret sauce that makes learning not only palatable, but an enjoyable activity that will help children thrive as they grow. We've seen firsthand the creativity and compassion teachers bring to their work, often under challenging circumstances; that dedication deserves a big celebration!
💐 Craft a Card for Your Teacher
We’re inviting all students to create personalized cards at the center this week—just one small way to say “thanks” to a great teacher. You can also decorate one at home with our printable template.
🎁 Gift Basket Giveaways
We've been collecting nominations from our students and their families over the past couple of weeks for a local teacher to win a special Mathnasium gift basket, and we'll be dropping that off this week! Learn more about this activity by asking a staff member next time you’re in the center!
📝 Team Teacher Shoutouts
We asked our team to share a memory of a teacher who changed their lives. Check out some of their stories here:
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Mr. Kauffman was my favorite teacher for 10th grade Algebra II at Hayfield Secondary School. He was extremely dedicated to making sure every student understood each topic, spending time in lunch and after school to ensure success. He made math fun and enjoyable
-Lisa, Mathnasium of Alexandria City
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My favorite teacher is Mr. Stamp, my 3rd grade teacher at Willow Springs Elementary. Mr. Stamp was my first teacher in the AAP program and he really helped foster a love of learning in students. He was also very good at providing a fun atmosphere for kids and held sing-alongs every Friday.
-Keegan, Mathnasium of Centreville
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My favorite teacher is Mr. Keay who taught Physics at Westfield High School. He sparked my interest in physics and got me thinking about teaching as a potential career path. While COVID did mess up my plans academically, I'm planning on returning to school part time next year to continue studying physics because of him.
-Nora, Mathnasium of Centreville
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My favorite techer is Brother James Kelly from my time at Mount St. Joseph High School. Brother James was the President of the high school, and helped me through numerous difficult times in my life.
-Jay, Mathnasium of Columbia, MD
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Mr. Dr. Warne is my favorite teacher! He was fantastic to work for, he taught algebra and was incredibly positive when it came to teaching. One of his big goals was to use theatre to introduce math to students and using visuals to explain concepts. My favorite memory is walking down the quad and seeing him about to pass me, only to stop and realize he was holding a bunch of arrows (not the ones for archery) of various sizes. Apparently, he was about to teach a lesson on vectors and wanted visuals for the students!
-Malia, Mathnasium of McLean
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My favorite teacher is Ms. Ray, who taught 7th grade science at Belville Middle School. Ms. Ray made learning science fun! Not only that, she ran the drama club that had no budget. We made sets with volleyball nets and chairs and performed amateur written plays that could be gotten for free and she made it feel magical.
-Zee, Mathnasium of Mount Vernon
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My most impactful teacher was my middle school Algebra 1 / Geometry math teacher Vern Williams. His passion for teaching math the right way and giving the students challenging & engaging problems really solidified my lifelong love of math. He always called up students to the blackboard (never a whiteboard!) to give them a chance to explain how they solved a problem which made the classroom experience much more fun and interactive.
-Billy, Mathnasium of Reston
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My favorite teacher is Professor Kuster from Christopher Newport University! Professor Kuster helped me find a love for Math that I had lost previously. His Calculus 1 course made mathematics approachable again and inspired me to become a Mathematics major! I also truly appreciated his humor, which made even the most challenging material engaging, his ability to help me connect the dots, and for making the subject so enjoyable!
-Anna, Mathnasium of Tysons
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My favorite teacher is Charlie Burts, my band teacher at Katherine Johnson Middle School! Mr. Burts was one of those teachers who can help you learn a lot and have so much fun while doing so. He was super supportive and made sure his class always had a positive environment. He taught me not only music, but how to be a good leader, peacemaker and a good person.
-Eliana, Mathnasium of Tysons
Let’s fill this week with gratitude, kindness, and plenty of teacher love. To every educator: we appreciate all that you do and we thank you for it!
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