Cleo Alberts
Building relationships with students, their families, and the community I work in is the biggest joy of my life.
Building relationships with students, their families, and the community I work in is the biggest joy of my life.
Thank you for supporting Cleo Alberts in this year's competition. Your donations and participation will benefit The Planetary Society in their mission to advance space exploration, inspire discovery, and empower the next generation of innovators.
I became a teacher after working in the private sector as an engineer and feeling dissatisfied with my impact on the world around me. I thrive on socialization and reaching others, and when a friend of a friend told me there was an opening in a school district in an 8th grade math classroom, I jumped at it. That first year of teaching in the '20-'21 school year changed my life, and made me a forever educator.
Tell us about your most memorable teaching experienceOne of my most memorable teaching experiences was when my team and I coordinated a massive event at my current school with all the Algebra 1 students. Working in a technical school, where students have a trade and go to shop classes & academic classes, my math team and I wanted to design a project that melded the two. Around the holiday season, the students all built gingerbread houses that had ADA-accessible ramps for the gingerbread men, combining our lesson of slope and building construction.
What would you do with the $25,000?If I were lucky enough to win the $25,000, I would use it to further my own education to obtain a PhD in mathematics education, so that I can instruct future math educators to have a long-lasting effect on math education. I am passionate about making mathematics accessible and equitable for all. I would pursue instructing at the college-level to best prepare future math educators with the resources and tools I have, creating a ripple effect in how we teach mathematics with a more just lens.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like America's Favorite Teacher, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.
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