Superintendent Mark Miear and school board members presented Christiansburg High School math teacher Emily Redding with flowers and balloons in her classroom for being named the Montgomery County Teacher of the Year. Pictured are: (from left) Dana Partin, Miear, Redding, Connie Froggatt and Marti Graham.
Emily Redding, math teacher at Christiansburg High School, was named MCPS Teacher of the Year. Redding has worked for MCPS for two years.
Redding believes that her role as an educator is to facilitate, guide and encourage students to take information and process, analyze and create something new with it.
Before arriving at CHS, she asked to teach algebra readiness and algebra one, because she said that many of the students in those classes might need a bit more help and encouragement.
“Our goal is to build confidence and competence in math,” she said. “Showing kids that math is important and relevant to life is necessary for success.”
CHS Principal Tony Deibler praised Redding and her abilities as an educator.
“Mrs. Redding is unselfish, invested, energetic and creative,” Deibler said. “She connects with her students by fostering positive relationships and by making it crystal clear that she believes in them. She possesses a true knack at adapting to students’ individual differences and needs.”
Redding, 37, is in her sixth year as a teacher, but worked as a professional math tutor while raising her three children. She said that tutoring kids who really struggled in math and having three children with very different personalities helped shape her teaching methods.
“I always try to relate to what students are passionate about, whether it’s sports, art or something else,” she said. “I have many students tell me math is now their favorite class or that they’ve never felt more confident about it.”
Redding was chosen from among all of the school-level teachers of the year and will move on to the Regional Teacher of the Year competition.
Redding earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Radford University. She previously worked at Harrisonburg City Public Schools and Caribe Vista Academy.
The Teacher of the Year is selected at the end of one school year and serves as the Teacher of the Year for the following school year, in order to mirror the state process. Emily Redding is the MCPS Teacher of the Year for 2018-19.
— Staff reports
— Staff reports
