September 2026 Spotlight
In this newsletter, we are spotlighting our CCTM 2026 Award winners: Rebecca Schroeder (elementary), Elizabeth Holling (middle school), and Lydia Snyder (high school). Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Lydia were recognized during our 2026 CCTM Summer Conference, last June, and we continue to celebrate them by sharing some of the ways they embody the CCTM values of creating community, commitment to professional learning, and recognition of others. Rebecca Schroeder is a primary grades teacher at McKinley-Thatcher Elementary School in Denver, CO. Rebecca is starting her 11th year of teaching where she is passionate about teaching her students that first grade is a great place to make mistakes! Rebecca cultivates a classroom environment where students embrace challenge, take risks, and learn together along the way. Her classroom focuses on student-centered, hands-on learning experiences where students get to experience the power of mathematical collaboration. Rebecca noted that some of the most powerful professional learning she has engaged in was focused on instructional conversations for multilingual learners. She reflects that this learning has helped her to better design scaffolds that support the learning of all students in her classroom. Rebecca is an expert when it comes to knowing her students, creating a positive classroom community, and creating a solid mathematical foundation for the joy and wonder of mathematics. Congratulations, Rebecca!  Elizabeth Holling is a middle grades teacher at Janitell Junior High in Widefield School District 3. Elizabeth is starting her 23rd year of teaching where she cultivates a robust classroom community, knowing that their shared community is the essential foundation for student success. She intentionally designs small-group activities that encourage students to communicate, collaborate, and build positive peer relationships. Elizabeth shared that one of her most powerful professional learning experiences was attending sessions with then-NCTM president, Kevin Dykema, at the 2024 CCTM summer conference. Elizabeth appreciated Kevin’s small, adaptable strategies to increase student discourse. She shared that when she and a teaching partner implemented his “quick thinks” routine, their classroom dynamic experienced a complete 180. The “quick thinks” routine helped change the culture around the daily warmup, so students became highly engaged in mathematical conversations. Congratulations, Elizabeth!
Lydia Snyder is a high school teacher at Canon City High School. Lydia believes in the power of community, and she empowers her students to build the learning community they are part of. She intentionally works with students to ensure they feel safe taking intellectual risks and being themselves. She celebrates questions and productive struggle as crucial elements for the learning community. Lydia takes the time to learn about her students’ interests and builds the math around these interests. Lydia serves on her school’s professional development committee and had the opportunity to celebrate a colleague who is partnering to model effective co-teaching between mathematics and special education teachers. The thoughtful strategies shared have moved co-teaching practices from theory to implementation. One student mentioned that Lydia makes mathematics a subject to look forward to every day by building excitement through the passion and love she displays. Congratulations, Lydia! |