LISD Elementary Math: Celebrating a Lifelong Learner!

Last week at our math teacher leader meeting, we honored and celebrated Kathy Boling, as she will be retiring at the end of this year. Of course, we are thrilled for her, but we also want to share with you today why we will continued to be inspired by her passion and dedication for learning.

Kathy has served on the math teacher leader team for almost as long as we have had math teacher leaders in LISD. However, we consider Kathy one of our "extraordinaire" math teacher leaders because she is continually learning and always trying new things, even after 36 years in the profession. For example, when we asked her to try out math interviews on her 2nd graders, not only did she commit to administering every interview, but she gave specific feedback on the advantages and disadvantages of each interview. As if that wasn't enough, she also attended every single after school meeting willing to collaborate and ask questions of others. When Kathy makes a commitment, she perseveres in accomplishing it.

This year, we encouraged math teacher leaders to spread their mathematical expertise by presenting at this year's February Conference. Kathy was one of those teachers who accepted the challenge to present, and she went above and beyond the call of duty. During the presentation, she engaged the participants in a number talk that she actually used with her students. Kathy understands that we learn best by doing and she wasn't afraid to step out of her comfort zone to try something different.

These are just a few examples to illustrate how Kathy is a lifelong learner. In fact, it is her ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge that has enhanced the culture of our math teacher leader team and will continue to inspire us all. Let me say this in another way. From the words of Dana Nathanson, "She has been an educator for over 30 years, and she is STILL learning as we all are!"