Susan Scott

Lexington, SC | 7-12, Mathematics, 2023

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

With my background in electrical engineering, I understand the demands that are required for students to pursue careers in STEM. It is important for my students to gain both theoretical and real-world knowledge of STEM concepts. As a result, I am motivated to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching in order to make sure that my students have a strong STEM foundation to best prepare them for their future endeavors.

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

The most transformative moments that have affirmed my impact on STEM education occur when I see my former students working or studying in STEM fields and they tell me the difference that I made in their lives. Whether it is working as engineers, medical doctors, veterinary technicians, STEM teachers, or biomedical researchers, my students have benefitted from the real-world STEM background that they received in my classroom. I am able to help students learn about the numerous STEM careers that are available and the requirements that they will need to successfully navigate these fields. It is an honor for me to see their growth as STEM learners and to know that my work as a STEM educator was impactful for them.

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

Throughout my work as an educator and engineer, I have prioritized making others aware of opportunities that are available in STEM. As a Presidential Awardee I have a unique platform that allows me to reach a broader range of educators and students who can benefit from my experiences. When educators and students are aware of the options that exist, they can take advantage of these opportunities in STEM fields. As more students study STEM fields this will advance our nation in STEM.

Biography

Susan Scott has been a mathematics teacher at White Knoll High School for the past 17 years. Prior to this, she taught mathematics for seven years at Socastee High School. Along with teaching three classes a day, Susan serves as Dean of the Mathematics Department at White Knoll High School. As dean, she is the instructional leader of her department and supports teachers with curriculum and teaching. Susan currently teaches Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus AB and BC, Algebra 2, and Foundations in Algebra to a range of 9th-12th grade students. As a former electrical engineer, Susan helps her students see how the concepts that they are learning in class can be applied in real world settings. This includes projects such as having her calculus students optimize the size of a can, and creating models of solids formed when a region is rotated across a coordinate axis. Projects that involve the collection and representation of data help her algebra students visualize and understand concepts. Susan has scored AP Calculus Exams nationally for the past eight years and uses this experience to lead professional development sessions for her school district to make other AP Calculus teachers aware of curriculum changes and to guide them in the latest scoring practices. Susan was one of twelve teachers selected nationally to serve on a council to increase the recruitment and retention of teachers of color and co-presented her findings from the South Carolina Design Studio at a national showcase. Susan earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from North Carolina State University, an M.Ed. in secondary education mathematics from Coastal Carolina University, and an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of South Carolina, She is certified in mathematics.

High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

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