Being named as a PAEMST awardee affirms my 25 years of work and commitment to creating high-quality, student-centered, and equitable learning environments where all students are knowers and doers of mathematics. My colleagues and I work hard every day to help students connect with mathematics in relevant ways that inspire a passion for learning. I am honored to receive this award and will continue to use my voice to advocate for high-quality mathematics teaching and learning for all.

Erin Schroeder Waunakee, WI | 7-12, Mathematics, 2023

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

Erin Schroeder has taught mathematics at Waunakee Community High School for the past 25 years. During her tenure, she has taught all levels of high school mathematics in both an integrated and traditionally sequenced curriculum, most recently teaching Advanced Placement Statistics and PreCalculus. A firm believer that the best way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics, Erin's classroom walls are a collage of student-generated data, graphs, and activity summaries. Her students routinely collect their own data and explore questions of personal interest. Erin's instruction consistently engages students in the standards for mathematical practice. As the Math Team advisor, Erin provides opportunities for her students to engage in collaborative play and cooperative problem solving. Under her guidance, the Waunakee Math Team consistently scores among the top schools in the area while still maintaining a team spirit and a focus on fun and learning. Since 2007, Erin has served as the mathematics building coordinator and co-chair of the K-12 mathematics department for her district. In these roles, she has mentored and supported many new teachers and has advanced mathematics instruction in the district by championing student-centered learning and modeling the incorporation of mathematical practices into instruction. She led her colleagues through multiple shifts in delivery models as the district navigated the challenges of pandemic schooling, ensuring students were receiving high-quality instruction and maintaining the morale and cohesion of her department. Erin has both a B.S. in secondary mathematics education and an M.S. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in adolescent/young adult mathematics.

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