Bringing math home

Showing students how math relates to the real world is part of what

makes Laura Vinyard a great teacher. Vinyard, Burbank Unified School

District’s teacher of the year, has been selected as one of the 20

finalists in the Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year Program.

“I’m really honored because I was nominated by my fellow

teachers,” said the Jordan Middle School math and science teacher.

“It means a lot to know that the people I work with think so highly

of me.”

Vinyard received the most nominations from fellow teachers at

Jordan Middle School to be the school’s teacher of the year, and was

then selected as Burbank Unified School District’s Teacher of the

Year by committee in July.

She went on to represent the Burbank among the more than 50 school

districts in Los Angeles County participating in the program and was

selected to be one of 20 finalists after writing a series of essays.

“We were so thrilled,” Jordan Principal Mary Margaret Kljunak

said. “It’s wonderful other people recognize what a great job she’s

doing.”

Of the 20 finalists, 13 will be chosen Friday at the Universal

Hilton in Universal City, to go on to compete at the state level.

“It’s so nice when someone who does a good job is recognized,”

Kljunak said. “So often in our profession we don’t get a lot of

recognition and it’s nice.”

Vinyard did not always have a fondness for the math.

“When I was in school, I didn’t like math at all, it was my least

favorite subject.” Vinyard said. “Once I got to college and learned

to enjoy it, I studied what my teachers did that made it feel good to

me, and I tried to learn to emulate that.”

She tries to do this by teaching students how they can use

mathematical concepts in their daily lives and in the world around

them -- she uses activities like building bridges with popsicle

sticks to help students grasp geometrical concepts better.

“I enjoy the way I can connect it to the real world,” she said “I

try and empress upon my students there’s a reason for this. A

proponent of it is making a connection between things and I try and

get my students to discover some of those connections.”

Vinyard also attributes some of her success to professional

development workshops and conferences where she learns a variety of

techniques to implement in the classroom and in planning curriculum.

“I enjoy being able to go to the different workshops and

conferences,” she said. “I find that it really re-energizes me when I

do that, I can’t wait to come back to class and try things that I’ve

learned.”