Kimberly Conell Albuquerque, NM | 7-12, Mathematics, 2023

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

Kimberly Conell has taught Advanced Placement Calculus AB and BC at La Cueva High School for the past decade. Before that, she spent six years teaching at Volcano Vista High School. Prior to her teaching career, Kimberly worked as an electrical engineer, where she contributed to the design of the flight control system for the C-17 Transport Plane and designed key components of the telemetry system used on the Titan Centaur Launching Missile. Kimberly's classroom is built on the principles of collaboration and critical thinking. Her students regularly engage in activities that require them to discuss problem solutions, such as card sorts, scavenger hunts, vertical surface problem-solving, and escape rooms. She also provides opportunities for students to connect theory to practice with projects like designing unique chess pieces using piecewise functions rotated about an axis, creating dioramas to illustrate related rates problems, and producing music videos where they demonstrate their understanding with music. Kimberly is a strong supporter for reforms in grading practices and participates in a districtwide program to adopt improved grading practices. Through this initiative, she collaborates with teachers across the district to refine grading practices that prioritize student growth. This shift has resulted in numerous positive outcomes including enhanced understanding, increased motivation, reduced anxiety, and a love for lifelong learning. Kimberly holds a B.S. in electrical engineering with a minor in economics and an M.A. in secondary education. She is certified to teach mathematics, science, social studies, and TESOL. She brings her engineering knowledge and experience into the classroom to connect theoretical concepts to real-world problems.

• High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

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