Nicole Clarke of Old Bridge Elementary: Virginia Mathematics Teacher of Year

The Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics (VCTM) has named Nicole Clarke, third grade teacher at Old Bridge Elementary School, as the 2018 VCTM William C. Lowry Mathematics Educator of the Year for the elementary school level. Clarke will receive the award on March 9 during the VCTM Math Conference held at Radford University.

Clarke has been teaching for 19 years, with 10 years of experience in Kingston, Jamaica. She taught at Vaughan Elementary before coming to Old Bridge Elementary.

Clarke is excited about the award and appreciates the recognition. “Many teachers go through their career and never receive an award for their hard work,” she said. “I feel honored but humbled by the recognition. I am motivated to continue ensuring the students learn and can connect what they learn in math to things they do in the real world every day.”

She said her favorite part of teaching math is seeing students learn and apply what they learn in various content areas. “I also enjoy seeing students relate math to what they do in real life situations,” she said. “It is my pleasure to see students pass their SOL math exam at the advance level.”

Clarke earned a master’s degree in communication for social and behavioral change from the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. She also earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a master’s degree in special education from George Mason University. She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in curriculum and instruction and special education from Liberty University.

Clarke is also a published author of the book “I Can Learn if you Teach Me.” She is the 2012 recipient of the Dale City Multicultural Educational Leadership Award.