Scott Keltner
Mathematics Teacher
Eudora High School
Eudora, Kansas
Email: [email protected]
Class Webpage: www.eudoraschools.org/keltner
Professional Blog: Good For Nothing Blog
Twitter: @ScottKeltner
Eudora High School
Eudora, Kansas
Email: [email protected]
Class Webpage: www.eudoraschools.org/keltner
Professional Blog: Good For Nothing Blog
Twitter: @ScottKeltner
The secondary finalist in Region 3 is Scott Keltner, a mathematics teacher at Eudora High School.
Scott’s challenge every year is to make math real and relevant to his students. He believes that finding real-world applications is where a math teacher can really make class worthwhile and engaging for a student. There are the day-to-day lessons, reviews, class discussions, and problem solving; but, the things that make his class fun – for both Scott and his students – are the projects that create memorable learning experiences for his students.
One example is Scott’s coordination of the installation of a wind turbine on the campus of Eudora High School. The process of obtaining funding, completing the necessary permits and approval process through local government, and coordinating the actual turbine installation were all tasks that were included in the classroom where students had a hand in the entire process. This project also allowed students to gain new insight on prospective career paths in renewable and sustainable energy, opening up opportunities in a competitive, emerging job market.
Scott constantly looks for creative, innovative ways to instruct and motivate students, both in and out of the classroom. “As a teacher,” he says, “my biggest goal has been – and continues to be – to give my students something, other than ‘fine,’ to say when their parents ask how school was that day.”
Scott’s challenge every year is to make math real and relevant to his students. He believes that finding real-world applications is where a math teacher can really make class worthwhile and engaging for a student. There are the day-to-day lessons, reviews, class discussions, and problem solving; but, the things that make his class fun – for both Scott and his students – are the projects that create memorable learning experiences for his students.
One example is Scott’s coordination of the installation of a wind turbine on the campus of Eudora High School. The process of obtaining funding, completing the necessary permits and approval process through local government, and coordinating the actual turbine installation were all tasks that were included in the classroom where students had a hand in the entire process. This project also allowed students to gain new insight on prospective career paths in renewable and sustainable energy, opening up opportunities in a competitive, emerging job market.
Scott constantly looks for creative, innovative ways to instruct and motivate students, both in and out of the classroom. “As a teacher,” he says, “my biggest goal has been – and continues to be – to give my students something, other than ‘fine,’ to say when their parents ask how school was that day.”