The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching represent the nation’s highest honor for teachers in STEM. Granted every other year to secondary school educators, the prize is awarded to one teacher per state in math and another in science. The White House recognizes these outstanding educators for their passion, dedication and impact in the classroom. Recipients are, simply, the best of the best.
Woodbridge High School mathematics instructor Kristie Donavan, who has taught in Irvine since 2007, received the honor this year, having been named a finalist in 2021 and 2023. The award, established by Congress in 1995, includes a trip to Washington, D.C., and a $10,000 prize. Donavan also won the Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) Teacher of the Year award for 2023-24.
Little surprise that an IUSD teacher would take the nation’s most prestigious prize. Irvine consistently ranks number one in California in science, mathematics and English language arts/literacy for public school districts with 35,000 or more students. It outperforms county and state test score averages, and has done so since the launch of California’s assessment board in 2015. Donavan says these rankings reflect Irvine’s commitment to attracting and growing strong talent.
Hands-on environment
“Irvine excels in supporting our teachers,” Donavan says. “We focus on our instructional strategies and try out new ideas in our classrooms, as well as attract teachers who find joy in teaching. A supportive administration creates an environment for both teachers and students to thrive.”
The award reinforces the effectiveness of Donavan’s teaching practices, which include creating a collaborative and hands-on environment, encouraging “productive struggle,” modeling joyful curiosity and demonstrating how math can be practical as well as beautiful.
To facilitate a collaborative environment, Donavan uses all four classroom walls (including two walls of windows) as white boards. “When you come into my classroom, you’ll see students working together in groups, standing at white boards around the classroom,” she says. “We even write on the windows. It’s such a simple thing, but the amount of engagement, collaboration and discourse is incredible.”
Encouraging students to persevere through problems allows them to own their successes. Helping students too much, she says, deprives them of enjoying those A-ha! moments when learning happens best. “My goal is to set up my classroom so students are doing the heavy lifting,” she says. “I set everything in motion so they will be successful in building their understanding. I call myself the ‘puppet master.’ I’m pulling all the strings, making sure it’s their success, not mine.”
“Irvine excels in supporting our teachers. We focus on our instructional strategies and try out new ideas in our classrooms, as well as attract teachers who find joy in teaching. A supportive administration creates an environment for both teachers and students to thrive.”
Kristie Donavan
This approach pays dividends when Donavan teaches complex concepts like polar functions. By finding real-world applications, as well as patterns and designs that can be represented with calculus, Donavan conveys the beauty and practicality of mathematics to her students.
Teaching by example
“When I first started teaching polar functions, I had to figure out what makes this equation relevant,” she says. “Why would somebody want to learn this? What makes this interesting or beautiful? And how can I show that to my students?” (Hint: One answer is the Spirograph.)
Today Donavan splits her time teaching AP Calculus and working in the district office, supporting math teachers throughout IUSD by offering innovative ideas about effective strategies. She also has taught Enhanced Math II, Enhanced Math III (Honors), Integrated Math 1, Integrated Math 2, AP Calculus BC, Math Foundations and Math Lab.
“We’re looking for more than just teachers when filling faculty positions. We’re looking for leaders,” Donavan says. “These are teachers who lead by example, not only with their students but with their colleagues.”
Donavan might be Irvine’s best example yet.
