Math teachers have too many problems to solve, but being awarded as a CCSD Teacher of the Year finalist is not one of them. After being nominated multiple times, Tabatha Box, math teacher, has finally been chosen as Etowah’s Teacher of the Year and has moved on to win at the county level. 

”[I thought to myself] I’ll never win. I’ll just keep getting nominated. And then, I finally won,” Box said. 

Growing up, math was one of her favorite subjects and had always come easily to her which is why Box decided to switch her major from psychology to math education. While her first degree from Kennesaw State University is in math education and her second in applied statistics, Box is not done learning.  

“I’ve started my doctoral program in math education at KSU,” Box said.  

Box’s favorite part about being a math teacher is interacting with students, and she believes that it is one of her strengths in teaching. Box feels that she is a passionate teacher in mathematics because she enjoys the psychology and sociology of engaging with individuals.  

“I am very, very passionate about my subject matter,” Box said. 

Box was shocked to be awarded Teacher of the Year mainly because she is young and has not taught as long as other nominees. The nominees who won throughout the years had been teaching for longer.  

“I’ve only been teaching for 11 or 12 years, and when you see the Teacher of the Years that win, they tend to be on the older end of the teaching career,” Box said. 

Box has challenged herself this year by setting a goal to raise EOC scores and AP exam scores in her classes. She teaches Honors Accelerated Geometry B/Algebra 2, AP Calculus BC, and Honors Multivariable Calculus. In return, she has made the courses a bit more difficult for the students taking them. With this increase in rigor, Box has another obstacle to overcome. 

“The challenge would probably be to keep that engagement that I am used to. Now that I have increased the rigor, I’m having to do things a little different to keep that high level of motivation,” Box said.  

Box has also earned many other awards related to teaching and education, including the Golden Apple for dedicated service, Etowah’s W.O.W. Winner for consistently modeling instructional excellence, and lacrosse and basketball teacher awards. She has also published a book for college math teacher called, “Building Support for Scholarly Practices in Mathematics Methods.”  

Box hopes to receive her doctorate in Secondary Mathematics by 2025.