NMSI Blog
Graduation stories: Innovative program allows senior to give back to her hometown
KU News Release

Andie Grasmick Nye
LAWRENCE - Andie Grasmick Nye wasn't always a numbers person. She had always gravitated toward social studies and English classes in high school.

But then she took pre-calculus - and loved it. Then she took calculus - and loved it, too. When she arrived at the University of Kansas, this love of math became a major. But she knew that she wanted to influence young people in the way she had been influenced by her math teachers at Overland High School in Aurora, Colo.

"I wanted to work with people, and I wanted a career that outlives myself," said Nye.

On May 17, Nye will walk down the Hill as the first graduate of the UKanTeach program, a collaboration between KU's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and School of Education that leads to a degree in science or math as well as a teaching license in four years. She also is one of the first two graduates nationally of the National Math and Science Initiative, which is funding innovative programs at 13 universities across the country. UKanTeach is modeled after UTeach, a highly successful math and science teacher preparation program at the University of Texas-Austin.

Nye credits UKanTeach with influencing the way she teaches, making lessons interesting and incorporating projects in the classroom.

"I really learned contextual framework," she said.

In addition to a math degree and teaching license, Nye will receive a bachelor's degree in political science - all in four years. While at KU, she also was a teaching assistant for Math 101 and a tutor for the Department of Athletics.

"Andie is both an exceptional student and future teacher. She has worked hard balancing her studies in both mathematics and pedagogy," said Margie Hill, UKanTeach master teacher and student teaching instructor.

And now Nye will fulfill her goal of influencing young minds as she was influenced. She has accepted a job back at Overland High School, her old alma mater in Aurora.

"I feel fortunate to be given the opportunity to give back to my hometown community," said Nye. "I hope that I have as great an impact on my future students as my high school teachers have had on me."

Nye is the daughter of Stephen and Anne Grasmick.

 

Comments (0)Add Comment

Write comment
You must be logged in to a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.

busy
 

Recent Blog Posts

Advanced Placement Initiative Receives First Major Award from the Daniels Fund

SANTA FE, NM— The Daniels Fund, started by cable television pioneer Bill Daniels to provide educational grants and scholarships in select western states, has awarded $75,000 to the Advanced Placement Initiative to expand the impact of Advanced Placement on student achievement in New
Mexico. Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level courses that students can take in high schooland for which they can earn college credit college at most post-secondary institutions in the United States—saving them time and money in college.

Read more...
 
Why Paying Kids To Study Works In Texas

The March 8 edition of Newsweek has a helpful analysis of the recent working paper that shows students who receive incentives for passing AP courses not only earn better GPA's, they are more likely to earn their degrees - and the effects are more pronounced among minorities.

Read more...
 
Many Authorized STEM Projects Fail to Get Funding

Here is an article from EdWeek with some timely information about STEM funding:

Many programs in the America COMPETES Act never got any money.

Read more...
Copyright © 2010 National Math and Science Initiative. All Rights Reserved.