2022 Elementary Mathematics Specialist Scholarship Recipient
Christina Montiel
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Biography
Christina Montiel is an elementary educator from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In the beginning, her teaching career focused on language development after completing her BA in the Teaching of Spanish at the University of Illinois at Chicago, an MA in Spanish from Sacramento State, and an ELL Endorsement from the University of Wyoming. After 8 years of focusing on language in a variety of K-12 settings, her career path shifted after accepting a position as a 5th grade teacher in Wyoming's only all dual immersion elementary school. The difference in how math was taught with a focus on sense making over memorizing procedures as she remembers from her childhood immediately fascinated her. With the support of her district's math instructional coach, Jill Armijo, her interest slowly grew into a passion during her five years in the 5th grade setting. Christina is currently working on completing a Graduate certificate in Elementary Math Leadership through Ball State University as she shifts into her new role as a K-5 Math Instructional Specialist at Munger Mountain Elementary School. She is looking forward to combining her new learning with her prior learning to create an optimal learning environment that elevates all students' first and second languages as they explore mathematics!