Renae Castelluci Oakdale, PA | K-6, Mathematics, 2022

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

Renae Castelluci has been an educator for the past 30 years with the West Allegheny School District. She currently teaches third grade mathematics, science, and social studies at McKee Elementary School. Renae's priority is knowing her mathematicians. She achieves this through her strong student-centered classroom, where concrete materials and representations play a critical role in developing deep mathematical thinkers, leaders, and learners. Through rigorous tasks, relevant projects, and ongoing feedback, Renae's “mathletes” learn to work and think flexibly. Renae masterfully develops in each of her scholars the ability to facilitate the learning of their peers by providing feedback to one another while engaged in high-level tasks and uncovering concepts and misconceptions. She is passionate about having her mathletes fall in love with mathematics. In addition to being a classroom teacher, Renae is a lead curriculum consultant, writer, and trainer for the district. Renae supported the systematic transition to an inquiry-based model of mathematics instruction and was appointed to work closely with national-level consultants from the University of Pittsburgh to assist in transitioning the district to an inquiry-based design. Renae is a lead designer of professional learning for her colleagues, and her classroom is a model classroom to train teachers on how to design and implement inquiry-based lessons. She provides professional support for colleagues by sharing best practices and mentors new teachers and student teachers. Renae received a B.A. in elementary education with a certificate in children's literature from the University of Pittsburgh. She earned an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction from Gannon University. She is certified in elementary education.

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