Solving mathematical word problems was an important part of Kristine Lynes' teaching. Students began each day with a new problem to solve. They shared their thinking, listened to others, and compared their reasoning. The PAEMST experience opened new resources and gave her renewed energy. Kristine served on state mathematics committees, led workshops, created a school manipulatives library, published articles and teachers’ guides, and applied ideas from her visit to the British Primary Schools.

Kristine Lynes Lee, NH | K-6, Mathematics, 2000

Kristine Lynes began her 34-year career in education in 1963. She received the PAEMST award while teaching fourth graders at Mast Way School in Lee, New Hampshire. Building a community of lifelong learners and teaching the requisite skills and processes to do so were major goals for Kristine. Children began each day solving a mathematics word problem. They discussed their solutions: learning how to listen, respond, and amend their thinking. A writing in mathematics project that sent monthly newsletters to each school in the state was a three-year project of hers. Teachers studied the relationship between writing and thinking in mathematics and how to integrate this into the program. Kristine worked on teams in her district and state to write curricula and publish a booklet that suggested activities to implement the curricula. She served as the elementary representative on the state mathematics teachers’ board. Kristine published articles and contributed to National Geographic teachers’ guides. Following her 2004 retirement, Kristine worked with University of New Hampshire (UNH) master’s degree interns, guiding them in year-long classroom experiences. She taught a UNH graduate class for teachers where she observed, modeled lessons, and led seminars. Kristine received a New Hampshire Edie Award for Excellence in Education. She was awarded the Paul Harris medal by Rotary for her volunteering in classrooms and for feeding hungry children on weekends so they come to school Monday nourished and ready to learn. Kristine earned her bachelor’s degree from Lebanon Valley College and her master’s degree from Wagner College. She worked on her doctorate at Rutgers University. She holds certificates to teach elementary school, K-12 English, and to serve as an administrator/principal.

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