Emily McDonald

Chattanooga, TN | 7-12, Mathematics, 2023

Biography

Emily Ann McDonald has been a high school mathematics teacher for ten years in Hamilton County Schools. She previously taught at Red Bank High School for eight years where she gained experience teaching Algebra 1 through Calculus. She currently teaches Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, and Statistics at University High. Emily has received the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network 2024 Excellence in STEM Teaching Award and the Tennessee Educational Technology Association 2021 Outstanding Teacher Award. Emily strives to provide innovative ways to incorporate STEM concepts in her mathematics lessons through the integration of technology, student choice, and community partnerships. By integrating real-world problems through problem-based learning, Emily strives to make mathematics accessible and relevant for all students. Her students participate annually in the Mathematics Poster Competition at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Emily has presented at several local, state, regional, and national educational technology conferences. She has received grants from the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Junior League of Chattanooga, Tennessee Valley Authority STEM Grant, Chattanooga Public Education Foundation, and Tennessee Mathematics Teachers Association. Emily earned a B.S. in Secondary Education - Mathematics and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Tennessee Technological University. She also earned an M.M. Master of Mathematics from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is currently completing a Ph.D. in mathematics education at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is certified in grades 7-12 mathematics education. Emily is a Google Certified Trainer, Google Innovator, and Desmos Classroom Fellow.

High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

The views expressed in awardee profiles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NSF or the PAEMST program.