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Photo by Jacqueline Ramseyer
It Adds Up: Campbell resident, Cheryl Anderson, a math and foods instructor at Cupertino Middle School, was recently awarded the Edyth May Sliffe Award for Distinguished Junior High/Middle School Mathematics Teaching.
Public Citizen
One Talented Mathematics Teacher
By George Moore
Campbell resident and Cupertino Middle School teacher Cheryl Anderson doesn't have a real strategy to help her students understand algebra--it's simply her love of teaching reflecting positively upon her students.
"Cheryl is a teacher who really cares about these kids," said Barbara Boone, principal of the school. "She is so supportive of them, and when she corrects them, it's done with a smile. Every principal needs a Cheryl Anderson on their staff."
Anderson was recently selected as one of the 2001 winners of an Edyth May Sliffe Award for Distinguished Junior High/Middle School Mathematics Teaching. The Mathematical Association of America recognizes teachers who have contributed to the success of high-scoring math students across the country.
But Anderson said she doesn't solely deserve the credit.
"Our students do such outstanding work at this school," Anderson said. "Most of them are very easy to teach because they want to learn and their parents are very supportive."
Anderson has been teaching at Cupertino Middle School for 11 years, but she also has 11 years of experience in the technology field. Anderson graduated from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, majoring in home economics with a minor in business. She said she wanted to move forward and get her teaching credential, but her father suffered a stroke during her senior year, which put her plans on hold.
When Anderson's son was about 3 years old, she began working for Signetics as an administrative aide, but soon found herself editing test programs and testing product. Her employer urged her to take some math and computer science courses, and she eventually was training engineers who were fresh out of college. After seven years she transferred to Supertex Inc., where she worked for four years before earning her teaching credential from National University.
With all of her prior experience, she was welcomed with open arms by Cupertino Middle School. Anderson said that during her tenure she developed a keyboarding class and taught math, journalism and foods. She currently teaches three levels of seventh-grade math, two levels of eighth-grade algebra and a food class.
Last year Anderson was co-department chair with Marjean Clark, recipient of the Edith May Sliffe Award for 2000. Clark passed away the day after school ended last year, with Anderson taking on the sole duties.
"I had been in the department and with the district long enough to know the perspective it has on math and moving students along in the system," Anderson said.
There will always be students who struggle with math, and Anderson said she has to be nurturing so they don't give up.
"I try and take things slow enough so that they can see their successes," Anderson said. "All of a sudden they catch on and their faces light up and say, 'I can do this.'"
Anderson said she has had the chance to be a leader among the faculty, working as site coordinator for two years, working with new teachers and being the current technology lead teacher. The school recently purchased 45 Apple iBook computers, and Anderson showed teachers how to build websites to post homework and other information.
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Campbell, California
