• Undergraduate Institution: Appalachian State University
• Position: High School Mathematics Teacher
• Company: Ashe County High School
• Industry Sector: Education
• Date Submitted: 5/04

What she does:

• She worked as a corporate actuary before teaching at Ashe County High School, where she now serves as chair of the mathematics department. In recognition of her outstanding success in teaching mathematics and in using diverse techniques to motivate her students, Carmen was named the 2001 North Carolina Teacher of the Year and she was a finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 2001 and in 2003.

Math on the job:

• Carmen says that, "The professional relationships that were formed with ASU faculty during my undergraduate years have proved to be very valuable to me in my career. The continued support of these mentors has been a key factor in my professional growth and success as a classroom teacher."

Education:

• She completed her bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Secondary Education and eventually returned to Appalachian to complete her master's degree in Secondary Mathematics Education.

Advice for students:

• She says that, "When I talk to prospective teachers, I tell them about all of the wonderful rewards they will experience from teaching, but at the same time I also try to give them a reality check on the challenges of teaching in today's high schools."