The Presidential Award further affirms the great work happening in public schools across the nation. It is confirmation that I’m making an impact in a movement that is greater than myself. Having access to a network of fellow mathematics aficionados and professional development opportunities brings me great joy because I can better provide my students the quality education they deserve. It is an honor and privilege to represent my colleagues, students, and families with such a high honor.

Ashley Kearney Washington, DC | 7-12, Mathematics, 2019

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Ashley Kearney has been teaching for eight years and has taught at Ron Brown College Preparatory High School in the District of Columbia for the past three years. She currently teaches 11th grade Algebra 2 and Trigonometry. She previously taught at Anacostia Senior High School for four years and at Ronald H. Brown Middle School for one year. Ashley’s classroom is a bridge connecting the demand for exceptional mathematicians in the development of our nation with the critical underrepresentation of persons of color in STEM . Her pedagogy affirms students’ identity, acknowledges their brilliance, and assigns them roles such as engineers and analysts as they focus on reasoning through and solving real-world problems. Ashley ensures opportunities for experiential learning for teachers and students through interactions with pilots at the Air & Space Museum, attending the annual Congressional Black Caucus Science & Technology Braintrust, and hearing from nifty fifty speakers associated with the USA Science & Engineering Festival. In partnership with Aero Club Foundation, her students toured the JetBlue facility and participated in community service at the JFK airport in New York as part of a STEM career day trip. Ashley’s leadership has developed nearly 100 mathematics teachers in Washington, D.C., and throughout the northeast region. Her community leadership has also helped to shape policy for better educational outcomes for students and teachers in the DC Public Schools. She was recently named 2020 Standing Ovation DC Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Ashley earned her B.S. in management from The University of Tampa and a M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction for secondary mathematics education from Johns Hopkins University. She is certified in secondary mathematics.

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