Harvest Tossava

Sparks, NV | 7-12, Mathematics, 2021

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

The excitement students feel when the mathematics click for them is what motivates me to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching. By continuing to learn and lead colleagues, I know I'm positively impacting the confidence students have in and outside of my own classroom. There is no greater feeling in the world than knowing you're making a substantial difference in the lives of others.

What has been the most transformative moment that affirmed your impact on STEM education?

Receiving feedback years after I have had the privilege of teaching students through a letter, email, or a visit to say how much they appreciate the passion I put in to their learning - helping them discover their potential and build the confidence to tackle even more of life's opportunities, has been the driving force to what I do.

Using your platform as a Presidential Awardee, how do you hope to advance our nation in STEM?

I will become a math coach and expand my influence on mathematics education by teaching breakout sessions beyond my district conferences and professional learning development.

Biography

Harvest Tossava has been in the education field for 20 years and has been teaching middle school mathematics for the last 10 years. She began her middle school career teaching "at-promise" students at Traner Middle School and served as the Site Co-Coordinator of the Parent Teacher Home Visit Program. Since 2018, Harvest has been an inspiration for enriching mathematics learning at Sky Ranch Middle School. As the Curriculum Coach, she encourages her colleagues to integrate practices outside of the textbook while focusing on student-centered learning. She models instruction, sparks fresh ideas, and shares resources around a variety of engaging, research-based strategies. At Sky Ranch, Harvest teaches seventh and eighth grade through a combination of courses in Math 7, Math 7/8, Math 8, and Algebra I. In her classroom, students use stations for student-centered learning led by peer mentors, participate in discovery learning using the Amplify Desmos curriculum she helped adopt, and through Harvest's YouTube videos she supports students outside of the classroom. Harvest has also worked closely with her district's middle school mathematics department for over eight years to drive effective mathematics instruction outside of her own school site. She is consistently sharing resources and teaching innovative practices that foster engagement through district professional development. Harvest was born with a love for mathematics, inspiring others, and continuous learning. She earned her B.S. in elementary education from the University of Phoenix and an M.A.T. in mathematics from Mount Holyoke College. She has earned multiple awards for being a dedicated home visit teacher in her district, as well as a leader in her school in positive behavior supports and intervention practices.

High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

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