Mattapan, MA—Mildred Avenue Middle School, the top-ranked First In Math school in Massachusetts, was recognized at a Boston Public Schools district-wide First In Math® Award Ceremony on June 16. Awards were also presented to the Top 10 Teams and Top 10 Players in the state. Mildred Avenue Middle School hosted the event, and program creator Robert Sun was on hand to present special awards to Boston educators and students.
Left to right: Mildred Avenue Middle School Principal Kennietha Jones. Brian Newsom of the math office presents an award to Mildred Ave. Team Leader Jean Stinfort.
Mildred Avenue Middle School accounted for five of the top 10 teams, along with Grew ES, Cleveland MS, Agassiz ES and Sara Greenwood K-8. Principal Kennietha Jones accepted Mildred Avenue's Top School award, and quickly pointed to the contribution of Team Leader Jean Stinfort, who's teams were ranked first and second in the state. Stinfort works closely with the school's Haitian and ESL students. "Jean is very dedicated and clearly understands the impact FIM can have on this particular student population," says Jones. "He worked tirelessly with students, often leaving school late. One night I answered a call from a worried parent looking for their child. It turns out that the students were still in the building using FIM with Mr. Stinfort!"
Sun presented Brian Newsom, Sr. Program Director-Secondary Math, with a Suntex Spirit In Education award. Sherry Sadjak accepted a Spirit award for Linda Davenport, Sr. Program Director-Elementary Math, who was unable to attend. Principals Ron Jackson of Grew ES, Andrew Tuite of Cleveland MS and Alfredo Nunez of Agassiz ES attended the celebration.
"Boston's Public Schools experienced the power of First In Math this year, and what a year it was," says Suntex Executive Vice President Nan Ronis. "Schools embraced the program and generated a lot of heat, propelling several of them to top state and national rankings." The top three players in Massachusetts are girls, according to Ronis. Top-ranked player Marion Ali, from Cleveland Middle School, is admired by her teachers and fellow students, who use words like 'wonderful' and 'amazing' to describe the quiet 8th grader.
Left photo, left to right: Robert Sun; Mildred Ave. students Landchester Laguerre (#6 in MA) and Maillekenfa St. Jules (#3 in MA); Brian Newsom and Marion Ali, #1 player in Massachusetts. Right photo, back row: "Glider1MA" Team Leader Meghan McKinnan of Grew ES; Grew Principal Ronald Jackson; Robert Sun and Brian Newsom. Front row: Top students Scotty Loujame; Tianna White and Dave LaPlante.
"It's great to see that girls are being encouraged to explore mathematics here in Boston," adds Sun. "First In Math explodes many math stereotypes, including the one about boys vs. girls—we find the ratio of girls and boys who experience success in the program to be comparable." Girls have ruled as FIM National Champions for past two years. (see FIM Hall of Fame) In 2007, girls won both the team and individual categories of the Siemens Competition for high-school students in math, science & technology for the first time in the competition's history. Isha Jain, a former "24 Challenge" champion won the individual prize for her biology project.