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OCTM Awards: Educators, Leaders and Friends of Mathematics
Each year, the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics recognizes outstanding teachers, curriculum leaders/coaches, professors, emerging leaders, contributors to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and friends of mathematics. Thank you for helping us identify deserving individuals to be considered for these OCTM Awards.
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2025 OCTM Educator Nominations The 2025 OCTM Nominations are now open! We invite you to nominate an outstanding mathematics educator. Please complete the NOMINATION FORM by March 31, 2025, to recognize classroom teachers, leaders and supporters of mathematics.
OCTM is pleased to announce the 2024 OCTM Educator and Friend of Mathematics Award winners. Each year the selection process is very difficult, and these outstanding teachers rose to the top. We thank them for all that they do to Engage, Inspire and Empower with mathematics! 2024 OCTM Award Winners | 2024 OCTM Award Winners Myrtle Miller - Marijane Werner Award - Elementary Emily Faerber, Napoleon Local Schools Brooke Hare, Norwayne Local Schools Chris Johnson, Lakewood City Schools Linda M. Gojak Award - Middle School Leigh Ann Allemang, Lynchburg-Clay Local Schools Stephanie Collier, Warren City Schools Katie McIntosh, Adams County Ohio Valley Schools Buck Martin Award - High School Carmen Bryson, East Cleveland City Schools Jean Garrick, Diocese of Columbus Ryan Spence, Streetsboro City Schools Chinequa (Nikki) Taylor, Miami Valley Career Technology Center Kenneth Cummins Award - College/University Jonathan Bostic, Bowling Green State University William Speer Emerging Leader Award Jordan Johnson, Crestwood Local Schools Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award Valerie Steinhaus, Cincinnati Public Schools Mathematics Leader Award Steve Miller, Summit Educational Service Center Bert Waits Friend of Mathematics Award Raj Shah, Global Math Project (GMP) Christofferson-Fawcett Award Joan R. Leitzel, Ohio Department of Education |
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OCTM Teacher Awards The following honors are designed for classroom teachers:
Principals, department chairs, colleagues, etc. should encourage outstanding classroom and school-based educators to apply for these awards. The application is sent to each nominee online and must be completed by the nominee. | Six Additional Awards OCTM honors six additional people per year:
College faculty, school leaders, colleagues, etc. should encourage outstanding educators and friends of mathematics to apply for these awards. The Christofferson-Fawcett Award is also presented annually to a member of the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics for a lifetime contribution to mathematics education. The recipient of this award is nominated and selected by previous honorees. |
See below for lists of previous awardees and the biographies of the Ohio mathematics leaders for whom these awards were named.
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Awards: Namesakes and Past Recipients
Christofferson-Fawcett Award
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The Christofferson-Fawcett award is presented annually to a member of the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics for a lifetime contribution to mathematics education. The recipient is recognized for outstanding and inspirational professional service to the mathematics community.
The award is named for two distinguished Ohio mathematics educators: Halbert C. Christofferson from the McGuffey Laboratory School at Miami University. and Harold P. Fawcett from The Ohio State University. Both Dr. Christofferson and Dr. Fawcett were members of the group that established the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and they were pioneers in leading secondary school students to learn and use mathematics. The standards by which these leaders of mathematics education conducted their careers are the criteria for selecting the annual recipient of this award. Check out the complete list of past Christofferson-Fawcett Award Winners.
Kenneth Cummins Award - College Teachers
The Kenneth Cummins Award is presented for Exemplary Mathematics Teaching to a college level teacher of mathematics and/or mathematics education in the state of Ohio. To be considered for this award, the teacher must have been nominated by a member of OCTM and completed an application. Check out the complete list of past College/University Award Winners.
This award is named after Kenneth Cummins. Dr. Cummins was well known in the mathematics community for his outstanding teaching. He was on the mathematics faculty at Kent State University and made numerous presentations at OCTM, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and Ohio Section of the Mathematical Association of America meetings. He was widely known for conducting numerous summer and academic year institutes for high school mathematics teachers in which he reached a large number of teachers of mathematics throughout the state. He was such a role model because of his deep love for mathematics.
Buck Martin Award - Secondary Teachers
The Buck Martin Award is presented for Exemplary Mathematics Teaching to up to three secondary teachers in the state of Ohio each year. Check out the complete list of past Secondary Award Winners.
This award is named after Ralph “Buck” Martin. He was a very active leader in the mathematics community. Buck enjoyed working with students and felt a deep commitment to their success. He was teaching mathematics education at Bowling Green State University and serving as president elect of OCTM at the time of his death.
Linda M. Gojak Award - Middle School Teachers
The Linda M. Gojak Award is presented for Exemplary Mathematics Teaching to up to three middle school teachers in the state of Ohio each year. Check out the complete list of past Middle School Award Winners.
This award is named after an Ohio and national leader in mathematics education, Linda M. Gojak. After teaching elementary and middle grade levels for more than 28 years, Linda became the director of the Center for Mathematics and Science Education, Teaching, and Technology at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. Linda has served as the president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics, the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Greater Cleveland Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Among the honors that Linda has received was the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching—one of the nation’s highest honors for teachers of mathematics and science. She was also awarded the Christofferson-Fawcett Award for Leadership in Mathematics Education from OCTM.
Myrtle Miller & Sister Marijane Werner Award - Elementary Teachers
The Miller-Werner Award is presented for Exemplary Mathematics Teaching to up to three elementary teachers in the state of Ohio each year. Check out the complete list of past Elementary Award Winners.
This award is named after two leaders in the area of elementary mathematics. Myrtle Miller spent the majority of her teaching career at Prairie College Elementary in Canton, Ohio. She dedicated much of her time and energy to the advancement of the teaching of mathematics to elementary students. Sister Marijane Werner served as mathematics specialist for the Kent State University College of Education. She was a pioneer in research on the impact of calculators on mathematics education and recognized as an authority on metric systems.
Bert Waits Friend of Mathematics Award
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The Bert Waits Friend of Mathematics Award is presented to a mathematics educator or non-educator who has positively influenced mathematics education in the state of Ohio and/or nation through a specific project or sustained activities. Individuals who have already received the award are not eligible. Check out the complete list of past Friend of Mathematics Award Winners.
William R. Speer Emerging Leader Award
The William R. Speer Emerging Leader Award is presented to a current mathematics education pre-service teacher OR a mathematics educator who has taught for five years or less. The recipient of this award has demonstrated leadership potential in mathematics education in the state of Ohio and/or elsewhere through a specific project or involvement in the field. Individuals who have already received the award are not eligible. Check out the complete list of past Emerging Leader Award Winners.
Mathematics Leader Award
The Mathematics Leader Award (new in 2023) honors an educator in K-12, such as an instructional coach, a mathematics specialist, or a school or district administrator, who has been a highly supportive and effective leader for mathematics learning and teaching. Check out the complete list of past Mathematics Leader Award Winners.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award (new in 2024) honors an educator who has made outstanding contributions to DEI initiatives related to mathematics learning and teaching. Check out the complete list of past Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award Winners
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DISTRICT AWARDS (presented from 1981-2020)
- Outstanding Elementary Classroom Teacher
- Outstanding Middle School Classroom Teacher
- Outstanding Secondary Classroom Teacher
From 1981 to 2020, OCTM presented district awards for outstanding elementary, middle school, and secondary classroom teachers in each of our eight districts in Ohio.
Click these links to view lists of District awardees:
OCTM is an affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
