Patricia Juranovits

Each year the President of the U.S. recognizes outstanding K-12 science and math teachers throughout the country. One math and one science educator is chosen from each state who exemplifies deep content knowledge combined with the ability to motivate students in science and math.

Patricia Juranovits says her favorite activity is Hunking Profiles, where students collect data on a particular aspect of the school’s population, then organize and analyze it. Afterward, they make recommendations to change and improve the school based on their data. “Students enjoy Hunking Profiles because they see the relevance and connection of the mathematics involved in this unit,” stated Juranovits. In class, she is her student’s guide, asking questions to lead curiosity, enrich their learning, and help them find the answers to problems. “Rather than simply presenting the answer, I try to ask guiding questions and offer clues, so that the answer can be discovered. ‘You can do it!’ is an ongoing, underlying message in my classroom,” Juranovits said.

I believe that all students can be successful in mathematics, and I make it a point to recognize every success, small or large. I present my students with specific criteria: Expectations for the day’s lesson, scoring rubrics for assignments, timelines, deadlines, and even district and State objectives for given units. When students know exactly what is expected to be successful, and understand that I am there to help them in any way possible, it is easier for them to achieve.