This award symbolizes a team’s commitment to increase our students’ potential. I am grateful for my family, students, and colleagues who have been valuable by providing opportunities of growth and compassion. It brings focus to the crucial part mathematics plays in education. It further proves that hard work, innovation, and diligence pay off. This award brings to light that mathematics is applicable to every aspect of life. It also celebrates our students and the successes they have made.

Joanie Gulden Glen Burnie, MD | K-6, Mathematics, 2020

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

Joanie Gulden has been a Title I Math teacher at Glen Burnie Park Elementary School for six years. She spent the first seven years of her 13-year career teaching fifth grade at Rippling Woods Elementary School. As a mathematics educator, Joanie has a desire for making learning pertinent and applicable to her students. Her passion is evident when planning invigorating and engaging lessons. A reflective practitioner, she consistently evaluates and monitors student achievement on formative assessments and utilizes this information to drive her instructional decisions. Joanie is a leader outside of the classroom demonstrated by her facilitation of the 24 Game Club, an afterschool basketball team, STEM Family Nights, and creating incentives for students participating in First in Math. She organized a question and answer session with Robert Sun, creator of First in Math, for fourth and fifth graders which brought to life the reasons mathematics is important. As a result of her focus and initiative, Glen Burnie Park became a Top 10 school in First in Math. She was the recipient of the Northern Anne Arundel County's Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year award and has received numerous STEM grants, most notably Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association’s Kickstarter STEM Grant. Her humble nature and desire to go above and beyond allows her to help students achieve and find their love of mathematics. Her commitment to teamwork and positive energy is well respected by her colleagues. Joanie earned a B.S in elementary education with a specialization in mathematics from Frostburg State University and an M.S in mathematics education from Towson University. She is certified in early childhood, elementary education, middle school mathematics, and Administration I.

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