Affirmation and hope. Watching my students come to find value in themselves and in their classmates – recognizing that both they and their classmates have ideas worth planting and worth growing – is all the affirmation I need to stay uplifted as an educator. Recognition as an exemplary educator affirms that the changes I have made in my professional evolution are worth sharing. I feel hopeful that our profession is finally moving towards centering students' experiences and ideas.

Michael Reitemeyer Newark, DE | 7-12, Mathematics, 2021

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

Michael "Mike" Reitemeyer has spent 18 years as an educator teaching every major high school mathematics course as well as sixth grade mathematics and a university's mathematics methods course. Mike spent his first year at Newark High School before moving to John Dickinson High School for nine years. He then went to Appoquinimink School District where he was a mathematics specialist for two years. Mike spent five years supporting teachers and teaching at Las Americas ASPIRA Academy before serving for the past two years as their Supervisor of Mathematics. Mike's tenure has been guided by his beliefs about the goals of education: to foster students' intellectual and moral autonomy and to have students see themselves and their peers as valuable and worthy of their time and attention. He works not only to develop relationships between teachers and students but also between students themselves. He focuses on positioning students and teachers as competent and works to foster dialogic classrooms throughout ASPIRA. Mike helped write curriculum for Activate Learning and has run professional development (PD) sessions domestically and internationally. He has presented multiple times at NCTM, NCSM, and at state conferences. He helps facilitate "Math Camp" each summer, a popular, voluntary PD. He has coached wrestling, cross-country, and Math League. Mike has a B.A. in history from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.A. in education from Seton Hall University, and an Ed.D. from the University of Delaware where he was awarded the Dunlap Scholarship. He is certified in mathematics grades 5-12, social studies grades 6-12, special education grades K-12, as well as for principal, superintendent, and district office personnel.

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