I entered the teaching profession to help young people become what they never thought possible, to help them become the best version of themselves. My goal is to facilitate learning and innovative thinking through problem solving and discourse. Receiving the Presidential Award acknowledges the hard work of my students and validates the dedication and love I pour into my students. This process caused me to reflect and deepen my learning so I can give the best of me to my students.

Nardi Routten New Bern, NC | K-6, Mathematics, 2022

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

Nardi Routten has been an educator for 26 years and has spent the last five years teaching fourth grade at Creekside Elementary School. She previously taught at Parkway Elementary School for three years, 16 years at Frances K. Sweet Elementary School, and two years at C. A. Moore Elementary School. Nardi strives to create a growth-mindset classroom environment where students feel safe to take risks to enhance learning and understanding. Students routinely participate in mathematics discourse to explain their mathematics thinking when problem solving. Her students thrive in a hands-on, minds-on learning environment where students are free to use manipulatives that fit their learning style and need. As a school leader, Nardi brought "Math Detectives" to students in the third through fifth grades. As "math detectives" students practice mathematics routines by solving riddles that advance them to more rigorous problems and clues. During her tenure as an educator, Nardi has presented at various local-, state-, and national-training events and professional conferences. Presentation topics include unpacking state standards, creating student assignments aligned to the depth of the standards, growth mindset, Thinking Maps, "Math Accountable Talk Using Graphic Organizers", and "Solving Math Problems using Three Reads". Nardi earned a B.A. in elementary education from Florida Atlantic University. She earned an M.Ed. in reading education and another M.Ed. in educational leadership; both from Florida Atlantic University. A 2014 recipient of the Milken Educator Award, Nardi is also a member of the National Assessment Governing Board and a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

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