Dr. Bill Stannard Awards for Excellence

Kevin Surya

Kevin Surya is a Ph.D. student in the Statistics program at Montana State University. His teaching showcases independence, deep knowledge, and care for his students. Kevin’s interest in statistics motivates students, and his commitment to student understanding sets him apart.

Steve Higgs

Steve is a non-tenure track instructor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences who teaches a variety of introductory mathematics courses. Steve’s students uniformly praise his careful explanations and appreciate his constant encouragement. His colleagues admire his thoughtful attention to student learning and his team-oriented approach.

Dr. Blair Davey

Blair is an associate professor of mathematics in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Her thoughtful and clear lectures are a masterful demonstration of excellence in mathematics.

Shay Kidd, UM Western

Shay Kidd is a mathematics education specialist at the University of Montana Western. In 2023 he was a member of the statewide task force assembled by the Office of Public Instruction to revise the Montana Mathematics Standards for grades Kindergarten through 12. Shay’s expertise contributed immensely to this important undertaking. It is our pleasure to recognize the valuable contributions of Dr. Shay Kidd to mathematics instruction in the state of Montana.

Janice Novotny, Sweet Grass County High School in Big Timber, MT

Mrs. Novotny is a high school mathematics teacher at Sweet Grass County High School in Big Timber, MT, where she has been teaching for many years and is known by her students and colleagues as an excellent teacher, always seeking professional development and looking for new ways to make math relevant to students. She serves on the national committee grading AP Calculus exams and in 2023 served on the statewide task force assembled by the Office of Public Instruction to revise the Montana Mathematics Standards for grades Kindergarten through 12. It is our pleasure to recognize the valuable contributions of Mrs. Janice Novotny to mathematics instruction in the state of Montana. 

Robin Belton

Robin is a doctoral student working toward a Ph.D. in Mathematics. Robin has taught M 172 this year, to great acclaim. Robin stands out as an engaging, knowledgeable instructor and as an innovator in the classroom. She is also well-known for her creativity. For the past two semesters, she has written interesting fractal problems related to geometric series, encouraged her students to listen to mathematical podcasts and watch online talks, and, most impressively, has created mathematical-themed word and picture puzzles prior to each exam to help her students review. Robin’s creativity and genuine excitement for the material motivates students to see the beauty in mathematical concepts, even at an introductory level.

Clinton Watton

Clinton is an NTT faculty member and the Assistant Director of the Math Learning Center. Clinton is a dynamic instructor who fosters classroom community, creates space for deep learning and provides rich instruction, examples, and resources for his students; he is celebrated by both his students and his colleagues for his contributions to student success. His colleagues in the MLC identify one of the greatest advantages of being in a team with Clinton is that he is always willing to develop creative solutions for tasks. He has proven himself reliable in his adaptability and positivity.

Dr. Mark Greenwood

Mark is a Professor of Statistics in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at MSU. He teaches a variety of upper-division and graduate courses and is the course supervisor for Stat 217. He is the author of an open-source textbook used in Stat 217 and earlier this year was recognized for his dedication to providing this free resource to all Stat 217 students. He mentors graduate students, most recently through his work as the Director of Statistical Consulting and Research Services, and his dedication to supporting students as they learn to become statistical consultants is admirable.

Dr. Fred Peck, University of Montana, Missoula

Fred, an assistant professor, is a member of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Montana. Fred was nominated by Jake Warner, a classroom teacher. Fred was chosen for this award because of his continued efforts to better education in Montana through working with in-service and pre-service teachers. In describing Fred, Jake stated, “Fred Peck has changed the instruction in my classroom for the better in multiple ways. He created a balance scale solving equations unit that revolutionized how I teach solving equations. His online course on problem solving was the best online course I've ever taken. When presenting in person he is engaging and knowledgeable. Even though I am no longer in his class he happily gives his time to work with me on pedagogy, assessment, and curriculum.”

Brooke Taylor, Billings Senior High School

Brooke Taylor teaches Grades 9-12 mathematics at Billings Senior High and received multiple nominations. She was selected because of her exemplary teaching at Billings Senior High School and outreach across the state. In particular, Brooke incorporates culturally responsive teaching to connect the lived experiences of her students with mathematics and historical and tribal culture in the state of Montana. Brooke volunteers her knowledge and expertise by presenting at math conferences across the state and, for the past three years, has given seminars for future mathematics teachers at Montana State University on how to incorporate Indian Education for All Standards within classroom instruction. Brooke is working on her doctorate in culturally responsive teaching and also has her National Board Certification.  

Eric Fink

Eric is a doctoral student working toward a Ph.D. in Mathematics. Eric has taught all four courses in the Calculus sequence, and has recently distinguished himself as a mentor to other graduate students teaching M273: Multivariable Calculus. Both Eric’s supervisor and his students comment that he is passionate about mathematics, well versed in the subject matter, and works to make difficult concepts digestible. He makes his classes engaging and goes above and beyond office hours to meet with students and make sure they feel supported.

Casey Clark

Casey is a non-tenure track instructor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences who primarily teaches 100 and 200 level courses in the calculus sequence. Casey’s students comment that she brings energy and enthusiasm to all of her courses. She is extremely adept at conveying challenging material through the incorporation of supplemental materials such as videos, technology, and worksheets. In addition, Casey shows unwavering support to all her students and, through her love of mathematics, has convinced students to major or minor in mathematics. In describing Casey, her supervisor stated, “I can say without hesitation or hyperbole that she is one of the department’s best instructors.”

Dr. Andrew Hoegh

Andrew “Andy” Hoegh is an assistant professor of statistics in the Department of Mathematics Sciences. Since coming to MSU three years ago, Andy has taught a wide variety of graduate level courses with great intent and dedication. Specifically, he has worked to modernize STAT 408, flipping the classroom and applying for grant funding to support his teaching innovations. He has played an instrumental role in moving the new MS in Data Science program forward and organized DataFest at MSU, offering our students valuable experiences analyzing real life data and making connections to companies in the Bozeman area. In addition, graduate students speak highly of Andy’s teaching style and the enthusiasm in which he brings to all courses.

Dr. Terry Souhrada, Retired Department Head of Secondary Mathematics Education, Salish Kootenai College

Terry Souhrada is an accomplished mathematics educator with over 40 years of experience as a classroom teacher at the middle and high school levels across the state of Montana. Terry was a lead author on the SIMMS Integrated Mathematics Project that produced engaging and meaningful mathematics curricula for the high school level. He recently retired as the head of the Secondary Mathematics Education Department at Salish Kootenai College, where he designed and implemented a curriculum for the Associate of Science degree in Mathematical Science and the Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education: Mathematics programs. Terry has devoted his entire career to bettering the state of Montana and advancing K-16 students’ knowledge of mathematics.

Graduate Student Award for Teaching at MSU

Katherine McWalters

Undergraduate Mathematics Teaching by Faculty at MSU

Dr. Jerry Markman

Graduate Mathematics Teaching by Faculty at MSU

Dr. Laura Hildreth

Undergraduate Mathematics Teaching by Faculty at Institution Other than MSU

Dr. Rich Rehberger, Dept Head Gallatin College, MSU-Bozeman

Pre-Collegiate Mathematics Teaching

Lisa Scott, Middle School Mathematics Teacher, Lewis and Clark Middle School, Billings, MT

Graduate Student Award for Teaching at MSU

Anthony Gaussoin

Anthony is a doctoral student in the applied mathematics track. He is making excellent progress on his coursework and research. He has taught each of the following courses multiple times: M 121 (College Algebra), M 165 (Calculus for Technology I), M 171 (Calculus I), and M 273 (Multivariable Calculus) in his three years in the department. Students give him very high ratings. His course supervisor had the following to say about him: “Tony taught me that curl and cross both start with C, while divergence and dot both start with D.  We both taught early classes, and Tony often came by my office in the wee hours with tidbits like this.  I also lifted a few exam problems from Tony, as he had a knack for writing problems that got to the heart of the material without being opaque to the students.  Tony has the right combination of enthusiasm, creativity and effort that makes a great teacher.” We will continue to expect great instruction from him as he makes his way to completing his degree.

Undergraduate Mathematics Teaching by Faculty at MSU

Jade Schmidt

Jade is the student success coordinator for STAT 216 (Introduction to Statistics). It was a notorious class on campus with a high failure rate. So high that the President was getting calls about it... Jade, working with Jim Robison-Cox (Associate Professor of Statistics) flipped the classrooms, writing their own set of materials for the course (basically a textbook), and have dramatically improved the student success rates in the class. The President now routinely mentions the successes of the changes made. Jade has been responsible for all the day-to-day running of the course, training of instructors and undergraduate assistants, and also has been working to target struggling students early with extra assistance. She also teaches the class and her sections are the highest rated and in high demand. She is a valued resource for the other instructors. She also has taught other courses for the department before she started this work and has won graduate student teaching awards for those efforts. She is one of our best non-tenure track teachers and it was great to be able to recognize that success with this award.

Graduate Mathematics Teaching by Faculty at MSU

Dr. Jack Dockery

Undergraduate Mathematics Teaching by Faculty at Institution Other than MSU

Dr. David Erickson, Professor of Mathematics Education, PJW College of Education at UM-Missoula

Dr. Erickson has been at UM for over 20 years. He is dedicated to designing productive learning experiences for prospective mathematics teachers, to recruiting and preparing “non-traditional” K-12 mathematics teachers, to developing leadership capacity among classroom teachers across Montana, and to building relationships between mathematicians and teachers of school mathematics. His accomplishments and activities this year include:

• Instructing and facilitating an innovative mathematics methods course for pre-service secondary teachers; where he works alongside students in local schools for extended periods of time.
• Leading a Noyce scholarship program in recent years to attract non-traditional students into the teacher profession.
• Co-directing the Montana Math Teachers’ Circle project, which brings mathematicians and teachers in five cities together for informal exploration of mathematics.
• Co-directing the MSP-LEAD program, which will prepare 28 mathematics and science teachers for leadership roles in the state and region.

Dr. Erickson is also a willing contributor to many mathematics organizations and endeavors in the state (e.g., Montana Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Montana Learning Center). He is a rare example of a busy faculty member who also sacrifices time to support the broader enterprise of teaching and learning mathematics in Montana. 

Pre-Collegiate Mathematics Teaching

Shari Kepner, High School Mathematics Teacher, Park High School, Livingston, MT

Shari has taught in the Livingston schools for over 10 years. She has demonstrated excellence in teaching AP Calculus and other advanced courses, and earned a masters degree from MSU-Bozeman in secondary mathematics. Shari is a masterful teacher who challenges her students daily and cares deeply about their welfare. She is also an active leader in state efforts to improve mathematics, most notably serving as current director and coordinator of the statewide MCTM Math Contest. This year, Shari was invited to be the Teacher in Residence in MSU-Bozeman’s Mathematical Sciences department. In this role, she worked closely with prospective high school teachers nearing the end of their preparation. She also taught calculus as well as courses for future elementary teachers, demonstrating the breadth of her knowledge and ability to engage students at all levels. Shari will return to the classroom next fall, and will be an outstanding liaison between K-12 and higher education mathematics.

Graduate Student Award for Teaching at MSU

Jennifer Weeding

Jennifer has taught M 165 and 166 (Calculus for Technology I and II), STAT 216 and 217 (Introductory and Intermediate Statistics) and M 145 (Math for the Liberal Arts) to very positive student feedback over her years in the department. She has volunteered to help in textbook selection for M 165/166. Dr. Kim Nordby (student success coordinator for M165/166) especially noted in her nomination that "Having Jennifer Weeding as a GTA for M166 for two semester has been an immense help to me in my position as the SSC. Jennifer has written exam reviews, contributed with input on exams, proctored evening exams, providing input into homework problems, shared quizzes and solutions and she has really gone above and beyond what is expected of her as a GTA. M166 would not have the success rate it had last semester without Jennifer's hard work to help improve the class.” Dr. Mark Greenwood has also observed Jennifer in the class-room when teaching M 145 and STAT 217 and noted that she did an excellent job in the classroom. She answered student questions with confidence and she presented new material in a clear and concise manner. She made sure all the students were engaged in the material being presented.

Undergraduate Mathematics Teaching by Faculty at MSU

Corinne Casolara

Corinne is the student success coordinator for Calculus II (M 172) which involves being involved in the day-to-day running of the course, writing exams, setting schedules and policies, etc. She has worked with the faculty supervisor (Dr. Mark Pernarowski) to revamp the curriculum and provide enhanced support for struggling students. She has recorded dozens of short videos that provide students with either first or second exposures to the concepts in the course. She has incredibly high teaching evaluation ratings from students while maintaining strict standards. She makes an effort to see all of the instructors teach the course she supervises and provide them with useful feedback to improve the instruction in all the sections of this critical course. She has been teaching two sections of M 172 each semester since returning to MSU two years ago. 

Graduate Mathematics Teaching by Faculty at MSU

Dr. Lukas Geyer

Lukas is an associate professor of mathematics and has maintained strong student evaluations teaching mainly core theoretical mathematics courses. Dr. Jennifer Luebeck has an office near Lukas’s and because of our paper-thin walls, hears him working with students and remarked about his availability and concern for students when they came by to ask questions about the material in the courses. In recent years, he has taught the undergraduate and graduate level versions of Abstract Algebra (M 431 and 504), Measure Theory (M 547), Complex Analysis (M 551) and a graduate special topics course. He also is involved with lower-level courses but has focused most of his instructional efforts on keeping the PhD program in Mathematics viable by offering these critical courses and excelling in teaching them. Lukas has also been involved in writing and grading comprehensive exams and had his first two PhD students complete their degrees this spring.

Undergraduate Mathematics Teaching by Faculty at Institution Other than MSU

Dr. Matt Roscoe, Dept. of Mathematical Sciences, University of Montana

Matt Roscoe is an assistant professor of mathematics education at the University of Montana. Matt is active in mathematics education at the local, state, and national levels. He edits a column in the NCTM journal Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, contributes to Team Desmos and the GeoGebra community (both are technology-based groups), and participates in Project NExT. At the local level, Matt has obtained seed funding to launch a Montana Middle School Teachers Circle in the Missoula area, and is partnering with Missoula County Public Schools to begin a "bridge to algebra" program for incoming freshmen at Big Sky High School this summer. Matt’s research interests center around developing creative and investigative approaches to teaching mathematics, and on using technology tools and software to support the teaching of challenging concepts.

Pre-Collegiate Mathematics Teaching

Eric Humberger, Bozeman School District and Montana State University

Eric Humberger has taught mathematics at Bozeman High School for over 15 years. He has taught a wide variety of courses, including AP Calculus and engineering-focused classes through Project Lead the Way, has served as head of his department, and has hosted many prospective teachers from MSU in his classroom. Eric took a one-year leave of absence in 2014-15 to accept a position as the Lyle Andersen Mathematics Education Teacher in Residence in the MSU Department of Mathematical Sciences. In this role, Eric taught courses for pre-service secondary mathematics teachers, interacted with Ph.D. students in mathematics education, and worked closely with MSU students completing field experiences and student teaching. Eric’s presence both at Bozeman HS and MSU has helped improve connections and collaboration between MSU and local schools, and he has a growing involvement in statewide and regional outreach.

Excellence in Graduate Student Professional Presentation Award

Sydney Akapame                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Excellence in Undergraduate Mathematics Teaching by Faculty at MSU

Veronica Baker

Excellence in Graduate Mathematics Teaching by Faculty at MSU

Dr. Steve Cherry

Excellence in Outstanding Service to the State of Montana in Mathematical Science Education

Dr. Jennifer Luebeck

Excellence in Pre-Collegiate Mathematics Teaching

Don Hickethier, Flathead Community College

Excellence in Graduate Student Professional Presentation Award

Kelly Spendlove                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Excellence in Lower Division Mathematical Sciences Instruction

Tom Hayes

Excellence in Upper Division Mathematical Sciences Instruction

Dr. Lisa Davis

Excellence in Graduate Mathematical Sciences Instruction

Dr. Megan Higgs

Outstanding Service to the State of Montana in Mathematical Sciences Education

LeAnne Yenny, Teacher at Sacajawea Middle School, Bozeman and MSU Teacher in Residence

Excellence in Mathematical Sciences Instruction

 

Dr. Jim Hirstein, Department of Mathematics, University of Montana