Thursday, March 28, 2024
Math teacher Kristin Tischer was recently named the Triton Teacher of the Year for 2021.

Math instructor Triton's 'Teacher of the Year'

Kristin Tischer, 2021 Teacher of the Year at Triton, began her career in the district in 2005. “This is year 17 for me,” she said, “it goes fast!”

Kristin grew up in Rochester, where she still lives. “I’ve always kind of wanted to be a teacher,” she said. A good experience in sixth grade influenced her career decision. “I had a teacher named Mrs. Miller and she was really a cool teacher. Sixth grade is a big year because you’re the oldest and going into middle school, and she made it fun.”

Kristin always liked math, so when she went to the University of Minnesota-Duluth, she started out with an elementary education major and a math minor, but after her first semester changed it to a middle school/ high school license. “I liked the harder level math, so that’s why I switched,” she explained.

As far as a favorite math class to teach, Kristen couldn’t pinpoint one. “I don’t know, they all have their moments,” she said. “I don’t necessarily have a favorite, but I like having variety. One year we had a schedule where I had to teach five geometry classes every day, and after a while it got to be too much.”

This year she’s teaching geometry, accelerated geometry, power math (a support to advanced algebra), probability and statistics, and computer programming.

When Kristen first came to Triton, computer programming was offered, and she had some college experience with it, so she started teaching it, and has stuck with it ever since. “I enjoy it, it’s a fun class. The students start with a language and build on that language...they’re learning but it’s kind of like playing a game because you’re getting feedback instantly with how it’s working. I wish we drew more kids into it. It’s an elective class for math, not a requirement, and it’s mostly juniors and seniors that take it.”

Working with students and helping them reach their goals of understanding is Kristen’s favorite part of teaching. “It makes you feel like what you’re doing is worthwhile,” she said.

And the hardest part — “When you know there are kids struggling and you know you could help them, but they have no time or have other things in life that are pulling them. You see their potential and see them not being able to get there. You try to make sure they know you’re an option to help, but at the end of the day, you can only offer so much because it’s their life and their path.”

Making the math skills relevant to students’ lives can get tricky, Kristen said, especially the more advanced material. She points out to students the ways it can be applied in real life situations, such as using geometry in construction situations. She also lets them know they will see the material in college placement tests, and eventually in college classes.

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