Alexandra Edwards, who teaches seventh-grade math and eighth grade pre-algebra, and Thomas Fisher, who teaches pre-algebra and algebra I, both at Hilton’s Merton Williams Middle School, have been named NYS Master Teachers.
Edwards finds motivation and fulfillment in helping even the most challenging students succeed. Since 2013, when she became part of Rochester Math Teacher Circle leadership team, she has been a firm believer in inquiry-based learning and the Connected Math program. Edwards has worked with the RocInquiry group on developing inquiry-based tasks and sharing them with Rochester area teachers through monthly meetings. Her other professional focus is developing a growth mindset in her students.
Thomas Fisher has a passion for math, teaching, and coding. He is an advocate for growth mindset and learning mathematics through inquiry-based problem solving tasks. Fisher is also a member of the Math Circles of Inquiry group of teachers who work to create inquiry-based teaching materials for mathematics. He also created his own math website, FishMath.com, that he uses to generate practice problems and provide his students with instructional videos.
The NYS Master Teacher Program network consists of outstanding teachers recognized for their dedication to providing the most innovative STEM education to their students, their commitment to professional growth, and their enthusiasm for sharing their successful practices with colleagues in their schools, districts, and regions. Inspiring New York state’s best teachers and rewarding their efforts ultimately attracts talented students into careers in STEM fields, including STEM education. Through participation in the NYSMTP, selected STEM teachers receive $15,000 stipends annually over four years.
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