The Presidential Award is the pinnacle of my career as an educator. It has been my professional dream since I first learned about the prestigious award at the California Math Council Conference in 2003. It took 20 years of reflection, learning, refinement, and growing to make this dream come true and to build my professional practice to a level worthy of such an award.

Denise Trakas Reno, NV | 7-12, Mathematics, 2023

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

Denise Trakas teaches seventh grade mathematics and eighth grade technology design at E. Otis Vaughn International Baccalaureate Middle School, where she has been teaching for two years. She currently serves as the Instructional Leader for the mathematics department. In prior years, Denise held positions such as the district's K-5 Mathematics Program Facilitator for 12 years and Northern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program's K-8 Mathematics Regional Trainor for five years. Prior to focusing strictly on mathematics, Denise taught for five years at Ted Hunsberger and Ed Van Gorder Elementary Schools. Denise is appointed faculty to the University of Nevada, Reno where she has taught for eight years. She has taught Methods for Teaching PK-8 Mathematics and currently teaches Foundations of Mathematics. Denise has served as a board member for the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM). She has served on committees for both the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and NCSM and has presented at conferences for both NCTM and NCSM. Currently, Denise is the president of the Nevada Mathematics Education Leadership Council (N-MELC). Denise incorporates global contexts into mathematics teaching. Through hands-on, problem-based experiences, she highlights mathematics in current and relevant contexts. Denise strives to support her students in building understanding of how mathematics can inform decisions and how these decisions can impact our lives and the lives of others around the world. Denise incorporates technology to build understanding and leverage mathematical experiences. Denise has a B.A. and a Master of Social Work from the University of Nevada. She holds an M.A.T. from Sierra Nevada College. She is Nationally Board Certified.

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