The Presidential Award is a testament to the hard work of my students in understanding mathematics at the elementary level and applying it towards success in the future. It is an honor not just for me, but my school community and school district that serves a high percentage of underprivileged youth in Tennessee. This award is an example that when high expectations and belief in every child’s potential cross, success can happen regardless of school setting.

Neven Holland Memphis, TN | K-6, Mathematics, 2022

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

Neven Holland is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in education from the University of California, Los Angeles. Prior to this, he taught fourth grade mathematics at Treadwell Elementary School since 2015. He also served as a Blended Learning Specialist where he assisted Treadwell Elementary in the implementation of blended learning while supporting mathematics instruction. Neven is a product of the Memphis Teacher Residency, where he first learned the art of effective teaching for diverse learners. Neven’s passion is to see students’ joy in engaging in mathematics with thoughtful collaboration and exploration. This passion has led to significant student achievement and leadership opportunities such as serving as a mentor teacher, department chair, and mathematics content lead. Neven has always worked to integrate student experiences into the mathematics curriculum, where students work with their classmates to solve relatable and applicable problems using concrete manipulates and other appropriate tools. In his classroom, students had the opportunity to engage in mathematics independently and collaboratively through the lens of art, technology, baking, shopping, vacation planning, and community service. Neven is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, a writer for Edutopia, and a research assistant for the Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education focusing on STEAM integration in the classroom. Neven has a B.A. in psychology from Indiana University, an M.A. in forensic psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, an M.A. in urban education from Union University, and a graduate certificate in educational research methodology from the University of Illinois Chicago. He is a certified elementary school teacher in Tennessee and Illinois.

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