Megan Butterman

I have been passionately and enthusiastically teaching 3rd-5th grade math through a whole child approach at Academy 360. Also, in the last five years, I taught Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Art for five years at the European School in Costa Rica. My passion for life-long learning guides my consistent growth and self-reflection to continuously improve my teaching on skills to better meet the academic and social-emotional needs of each of my students. My main passion is to help inspire math education that focuses on building student confidence along with critical thinking and analysis skills; focusing on the how's and why's of math. This has led me to become a teacher leader as I developed, curated, and facilitated professional development for fellow colleagues from Preschool to 6th grade as well as compile and create learning activities, lessons, units, and resources. This philosophy and reflection on skills seeps into all of the subjects that I teach, influencing students' mindsets and encouraging perseverance and self-motivation to learn. Inspiring a growth mindset in math, as well as all other content areas, is reflected in my own positive attitude and desire to teach the whole student and provide real-life learning opportunities. Throughout my five years teaching in Costa Rica, I have broadened my cultural awareness and differentiation strategies, deepened my own fluency in a second language, grown as a person as well as a professional, and built my own firm but respectful positive classroom culture. I approach my teaching responsibilities with professionalism and zeal, and I am a team-player for collaboration with my students, colleagues, families, and communities. I am excited to be studying for a Master’s Degree in STEM Education as I further my own teaching experiences and become an inspiration leader for math and science education.