Making math enjoyable

2021 Teacher of the Year finds unconventional ways to help students

Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow High School (HEM) math teacher Crystal Clark was presenting her own achievement awards on May 27 when she learned she had won Carbon County School District No 2's Teacher of the Year.

When Clark came up to accept her award from Noel Manning, Director of Curriculum, in front of the whole school, she was clearly surprised.

"I was told I have to say a speech, so here it is," Clark said. "Speech and thank you."

With those few words, Clark left the stage to thunderous applause from the audience and shouts of approval.

"She is so deserving and is one of the best teachers ever," HEM senior Mina Myers said after learning that Clark won the next day. "She actually makes a subject like math enjoyable."

That seems to be the consensus from all the students; Clark makes math an enjoyable class to attend and she leaves no student behind.

Clark has been teaching for 32 years, with 30 of them at HEM.

She gets teary-eyed when talking about how much she enjoys teaching students. Clark is one of those teachers that really loves her kids.

Clark is almost in disbelief to be honored with the award. Not only was it unexpected, she teaches because it is all about helping students and she doesn't feel there is any greater reward.

"I didn't do this myself," Clark said. "I can't do what I do without the kids. I do what I do for the kids, not for any type of accolades, not for recognition."

Clark is a Wyoming native and graduated from Buffalo High School. She went to college at Black Hills State University where she started studying business administration and accounting. Clark realized early on she didn't want to sit behind a desk doing a company's books. 

She began tutoring because a professor noticed her helping others in his class. Clark was hired at the tutor center teaching mathematics and soon realized teaching was her calling.

After graduating, her first job was at HEM 32 years ago. 

Clark has spent all but two years at HEM. When she and her husband, Paul moved to Cody she had been teaching at HEM for 10 years.

"With the change is his occupation, we had the opportunity to come back to Elk Mountain," Clark said. "We reestablished ourselves back into that community."

Her husband graduated from HEM as did her daughter, Haley. Clark said teaching her daughter at HEM went well. She said there was never an issue about having Haley in her class. Her daughter also went into education and is now teaching in Arizona.

The teacher of the year knows that some students over the years have entered her classroom fearful of the subject they know is a must pass to graduate.

"I think one of the things that I really, really focus on is trying to make the mathematics as concrete and not one of those subjects that becomes so fearful, that they don't want to walk into the room," Clark said. "I want to make it a subject that is a challenge, but yet it is something that is not so challenging that they give up. I want to give them ways to approach problems in different ways."

Clark said this sometimes means being non-conventional in putting forth the subject matter.

"Giving them tools to look at mathematics in a different light, so that they can get over that fear they may have and see the application," Clark said. "I think the biggest challenges I have had are some of those students that I know are completely capable of doing the work, but have that mental block."

Clark realizes a student can walk into her class convinced he or she has no ability in understanding math.

"Its not the ability not to be able to do the mathematics," Clark said. "They may possibly have had some kind of stumbling block along the way and, as an educator, it is our duty to get them over any fear and make them not afraid to try things and do the work."

Clark said a non-conventional aspect can be singing problems or a student standing on a desk with a string and another student lying on the floor visualizing point to point.

"We do different exercises in the room that make it a little more comprehensible than just learning mathematics by rote memory," Clark said. "One of our activities when I introduced the trigonometry unit and we started talking about sign and cosign, we did an activity that involved a pendulum activity where they could see and watch and could relate to."

These activities Clark does in class are later referenced when she is reviewing for exams.

"I say to them', do you remember that activity we did when you were standing on the desk,"' Clark said. "It places the mathematics easier in their memory for better recall."

Clark said that rote learning is a part of mathematics but by the time a student is in high school the application needs to be more evident.

"I have really enjoyed teaching for the 32 years, even with its ups and downs that are going to happen with any job situation," Clark said. "The kids are awesome and that is your motivator. That is one of the things about teaching in a small school. You get to know your students and see them through multiple years."

Clark said this helps when knowing to play to student's strengths and weaknesses. 

"You might have a student interested in aeronautics and another in agriculture," Clark said. "So, as a teacher, I take the same mathematical concept to be taught and apply it the interest of the student. That way what is taught is beneficial to their future. Math is not exactly the same for everybody and that is why getting to know your kids is so important."

Clark doesn't know who nominated her for the award.

"I am honored that someone thought I was doing the sort of job to be even considered for this award because there are so many wonderful teachers in this district," Clark said with a little choke in her voice. "I teach because I love the kids and I have for over 30 years. To me it is really about the kids. So this award is actually shared with all the students I have had in the past and the ones I will have in the future."

 

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