News and Events : News 05-06

NMH Math Teacher Wins Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

GILL, MA—Mark Yates, who has taught math for 17 years, has won the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The prize, given to 100 teachers nationwide by the National Science Foundation, comes with a $10,000 grant. As his first year of teaching Geometry and Precalculus at Northfield Mount Hermon School winds down, this former nuclear technician muses on the magic of math, extraterrestrial digits, and the challenges and delights of teaching.

What about math intrigues you?
Math seems to me like small puzzles that can be initially perplexing, but that crack with persistence and ingenuity. It feels wonderful to solve a problem that I have been struggling with for weeks. Math seems to also have an uncanny ability to say things about the world that are true. If we ever made contact with an alien race, then I would be convinced that our mathematics would be the same. Maybe they would use base 12 instead of base 10, because I couldn't guarantee they had 10 fingers and toes.

What keeps you interested in teaching?
With teaching I can do one thing in the classroom and have it interpreted 12 different ways. Some of the things I try make great sense to half the students but perplex the other half. Every day is such a challenge because teaching is a social enterprise. When I was operating a nuclear power plant, there was predictability to my work. If I turned the right valves in the right order then everything works brilliantly. In class it is never that easy and I am forced to continually rethink what I am doing.

How do you keep your students engaged in what for many is a difficult subject?
Motivating students to learn math is much harder than teaching math. I don't have any great secrets to reveal. I just try to show how much I like it and maybe my excitement will transfer, at least a little. I also try to keep the class lighthearted and friendly. I think they know I want them to succeed and that I will work hard to help them. I would love to see the entire class finish with an A+.

Would you describe your style of teaching?
I think everyone teaches who they are. I am informal and so the dominating and intimidating approach just doesn't fit with my personality. My teaching style is like the style of most of my friends in the math department. We mix presentation of material with kids at the board doing instead of watching. As I observe more teachers in our department, I am convinced I will see even more great ideas I can steal.

Do you have any plans for the prize money?
The money is going to pay for about two months of college (if current trends continue) for my two cherubs, Savannah and Raleigh.

Mark Yates holds a BS from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and an MS from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He was a Navy nuclear machinist mate on the USS Carl Vinson.

Northfield Mount Hermon is an independent coeducational boarding and day high school in Gill, MA.

CONTACT: Mark Yates, 413-498-2418, myates@nmhschool.org
or Kate Snyder, 413-498-3357, ksnyder@nmhschool.org

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