Published: January 09, 2009 02:52 pm      

Local educator wins ‘Math Hero’ award

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Covenant Christian High School teacher Sean Bird presents a check for the school to Principal Brian Hudson.









Covenant Christian High School teacher Sean Bird was recently honored by Raytheon with the Math Hero Award from MathMovesU.

“Winning the award was really exciting,” Bird said. “Even the name of the award, being compared to a super hero. My son says that he wants to grow up and be a math hero.”

Only 32 teachers nationally were named as Math Heroes.

“Also, my family gets $2,500 and the school gets a $2,500 grant,” Bird said. “It is more than a privilege, it’s an honor.”

With the award, Bird feels more of a responsibility in the education community.

“It’s an obligation to live more as a math hero,” Bird said. “I have to reach out to middle school and high school teachers to incorporate technology into the classroom.”

Bird said he also thinks his winning the award allows his students to see that he has a passion about their education.

“I think that (the students) get kind of excited,” he said. “They feel excited to know they have a teacher who day in and day out will do things for them. They get a chance to take advantage of a good thing at Covenant Christian. If they pay the tuition costs, they want to get things out of it.”

Bird said he hopes to encourage his students to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, or math. He feels that these professions have evolved overseas and views a need for American interest.

In addition to his work in the classroom, Bird also hosts a TI User Group to encourage and equip local math and science teachers in their effective use of graphing calculators in the classroom. Bird also takes the opportunity to speak at state, regional, and international math conferences.

“The reason I started speaking is so I would not have to pay the $100 or $150 regular fee,” Bird said. “I do it to make me feel like going is more worth the time.”

Bird is planning to attend upcoming conferences in Seattle, Wash., and Washington, D.C., where he is eager to hear the nation’s top speakers.

“(In the conferences) I enjoy seeing what other countries are doing,” Bird said. “I also just enjoy hearing their accents and their excitement of working with technology.”

Bird also is excited that he gets the opportunity to meet new people and become reacquainted with old friends.

Along with the Math Heroes Award, Bird has the Smart Exemplary Educator Award, the Lilly Creativity Teacher Fellowship Award, and the Best Buy Teacher Award in his trophy case. The Smart Award is offered by Smart Technologies, due to Bird using their Smart Board product. With the Best Buy Award, he received $2,000 to supply his classroom with technological equipment.



ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com