Published: June 04, 2008 04:46 pm      

Byng teacher named Oklahoma Math Teacher of the Year

Byng — Byng Junior High School staff announced one of its teachers has received the Oklahoma Mathematics Teacher of the Year Award for 2007-2008.

Jan Sturdevant was awarded the honor by the Oklahoma/Arkansas section of the Mathematics of America Association. Sturdevant received the award for secondary mathematics.

The award is given for excellence in mathematics teaching and for the contribution the teacher makes to students by imparting both knowledge of and enthusiasm for mathematics.

Sturdevant has taught for 34 years. She began her teaching career at Ada High School in 1973, then taught nine years at East Central University as an adjunct professor, moving to Byng in 1993.

Sturdevant has taught all levels of mathematics, from general math through advanced placement calculus, as well as physics.

She is a national board certified teacher in adolescence and young adulthood mathematics.

She has been a state finalist for the Oklahoma Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching and has twice been selected as Byng Junior High Teacher of the Year.

Dylan Hendricks, a former student, said, “Mrs. Sturdevant opened a gateway of knowledge and also led me through to a whole new world of opportunity and understanding.”