HOUSTON – Great partnerships can lead to great results. That's why ConocoPhillips and the Houston Astros are teaming up for the third year on a program that recognizes Houston-area math teachers who excel in partnering with their students to encourage educational achievement.
The ConocoPhillips Math Teacher of the Month program recognizes teachers for exceeding expectations in support of students in their classrooms. Every month during the baseball regular season, one of the honored teachers will be recognized during an Astros home game for their part in helping students excel in the study of mathematics.
“Math achievement is key to a student’s academic and career success, and teachers play a critical role in equipping and inspiring students to perform to the best of their abilities,” said Ellen DeSanctis, vice president of Investor Relations and Communications. “We are excited to honor these Houston-area math teachers who go above and beyond to help their students succeed.”
Six recipients were chosen from more than 360 nominees, recommended by students, colleagues and principals. An external committee, including representatives from academia and the nonprofit sector, selected the honored teachers based on their commitment to excellence in teaching; creativity and innovation; leadership skills; traditional and non-traditional teaching tools; ability to go above and beyond to make in a difference in students' lives; demonstrated increase in student mathematical achievement and affinity; and alignment with the ConocoPhillips SPIRIT Values.
This year’s recipients demonstrate many outstanding qualities, including incorporating technology and educational games into the classroom, encouragement and humor, and hands-on activities, group projects and partner practice techniques.
Each honored teacher will receive awards from both ConocoPhillips and the Houston Astros, including a donation to their school district, gift card to purchase classroom supplies, Astros game tickets, on-field recognition at a pre-game ceremony at Minute Maid Park and tour of the facility.
ConocoPhillips is the world’s largest independent E&P company based on production and proved reserves. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, ConocoPhillips had operations and activities in 17 countries, $90 billion of total assets, and approximately 13,300 employees as of Dec. 31, 2016. Production excluding Libya averaged 1,567 MBOED in 2016, and proved reserves were 6.4 billion BOE as of Dec. 31, 2016. For more information, go to www.conocophillips.com.
PHOTO CUTLINE - The Houston Astros mascot, Orbit, and ConocoPhillips representative Ty Johnson (right) visit Creekside Park Junior High School in Tomball ISD to congratulate Christopher Penny (left) who was named as a 2017 ConocoPhillips Math Teacher of the Month.
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2017 Recipients |
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Name |
School |
District |
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Daniel Becker |
Alief Early College High School |
Alief ISD |
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Alex Collins |
Doerre Intermediate School |
Klein ISD |
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Melanie Jackson |
Birkes Elementary School |
Cy-Fair ISD |
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Jessica Merrill |
Tanglewood Middle School |
Houston ISD |
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Christopher Penny |
Creekside Park Junior High School |
Tomball ISD |
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Annie Schanock |
YES Prep Brays Oaks |
YES Prep Charter Schools |
Editors Notes:
Honored teachers’ full bios and photos are available at www.conocophillips.com/MathTeacheroftheMonth
Daniel Becker
Alief Early College High School
Alief Independent School District
Daniel has taught mathematics since 2007 after graduating from Texas A&M University with a special focus on cognitive and developmental psychology. He has taught secondary mathematics from the seventh-grade ESL to pre-AP algebra II levels.
Alex Collins
Doerre Intermediate School
Klein Independent School District
Alex is in his 17th year of teaching at Doerre Intermediate School in Klein ISD. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master’s degree in mathematics. Over the course of his career, he has taught all levels of junior high math. He currently teaches algebra pre-AP and geometry pre-AP courses, and serves as the mathematics department head.
Melanie Jackson
Birkes Elementary School
Cy-Fair Independent School District
Melanie has taught at Birkes Elementary School for 11 years and currently teaches fifth-grade mathematics. Throughout her career, she has taught a variety of students including gifted and talented students and students with special needs.
Christopher Penny
Creekside Park Junior High
Tomball Independent School District
Chris currently teaches seventh-grade mathematics and eighth-grade geometry at Creekside Park Junior High. He began teaching nine years ago and taught for eight years at North Shore Middle School. His classroom reflects a balanced approach to student-centered instruction, 21st-century skill development and classic direct instruction.
Jessica Merrill
Tanglewood Middle School
Houston Independent School District
Jessica joined Tanglewood Middle School in 2007 after teaching for four years at Crete-Monee Middle School in University Park, Illinois. She currently teaches eighth-grade math and algebra I. She also served for two years as dean of students, but missed her true passion – teaching math – and returned to the classroom two years ago. Jessica’s creativity allows her to connect math to her students’ everyday lives, which inspires them and leads them to mastery.
Annie Schanock
YES Prep Brays Oaks
YES Prep Charter Schools
Annie has been an eighth-grade math and algebra I teacher at YES Prep Brays Oaks since January 2015 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in mathematics. Her success in the classroom is rooted in a fundamental belief that all students can achieve in a math class.