2019 Elementary Mathematics Specialist Scholarship Recipient
MaryBeth Bates
Bennington, Nebraska
Biography
MaryBeth Bates has worked in elementary education for the past 18 years. Upon completion of her Bachelor of Science in Education degree in 2002 from Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, she began her teaching career in a 5th and 6th grade combination classroom at St. Ludger’s Catholic School in Creighton, NE. In 2005, she received her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, also from Wayne State, and accepted a 2nd grade position in South Sioux City, NE for two years. For the past 14 years, MaryBeth has been employed by the Bennington Public Schools in Bennington, NE at Pine Creek Elementary.
Twelve of those 14 years within the Bennington Public Schools, she has taught first grade. While working as a first grade teacher, MaryBeth fostered a deeper love for mathematics education while helping her students learn to grow and fully understand mathematical concepts. She helped develop a love for mathematics in her students making math relevant to their everyday lives. In the spring of 2018, she was offered the position of Math Specialist with the Bennington Public Schools due to her success as a mathematics educator. To increase her expertise in mathematics education, she began working on her K-3 Mathematics Specialist Certification.
In the summer of 2018, she began this certification through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Primarily Math Cohort. Primarily Math is a graduate program for teachers to study mathematics and become highly qualified in the teaching of mathematics. Working through this program, MaryBeth has worked to deepen her understanding of mathematics while enriching the mathematical experiences for her students.
As a Math Specialist, MaryBeth has a unique opportunity to directly service students in the content area of mathematics and mentor teachers in her district. A majority of her responsibility is working to directly service students in a mathematics intervention model. Additionally, a portion of her time is spent working with educators in her district to support them in gaining confidence and skill with mathematics education.
MaryBeth is proud to be the recipient of the 2020 AMTE Elementary Mathematics Specialist Scholarship. She appreciates AMTE giving her this opportunity, helping her reach her professional goal to become an elementary math specialist.