Tricia Tobergte
Newport Intermediate School
Newport Independent
Teaching 15 years
Typically serves about 34 students per week

What made you decide to become an educator?
I was just born an educator. I always knew that I’d be a teacher from the time I was 3 years old teaching my stuffed animals and dolls. I have never considered another career.

What excites you most about being an MAF Mathematics Intervention Teacher?
Math is fun! My students get so excited about doing math without realizing it is math.

What differences have you seen in your students since they began receiving intervention assistance?
The most obvious change I have seen in my intervention students is their new love of math. They are more confident in their mathematical skills and more empowered to explore mathematical concepts and reasoning. Questioning their answers no longer intimidates them because they can explain and defend their reasoning with confidence.

What does the MAF and the Kentucky Center for Mathematics mean to you?
KCM's resources, professional learning, and staff, especially Kris Jarboe, have been my backbone this past year. The professional learning books have been my curriculum guides. The KNP resources were used daily and made math fun for my students and myself. The webinars, conference, and collegial meetings allowed me to share ideas with a safe understanding sounding board and work out the glitches of my new position, as well as gather lots of new ideas and activities.

KCM gives me the support I need by offering many wonderful learning experiences through training, online meetings with other MIT’s, and by having a Regional Coordinator that guides me and listens to all of my praises and struggles.

What advice would you give to a colleague or other educator if they had never attended a KCM professional learning experience before?
Before teaching a math lesson, ask yourself what prerequisite skills do your students need to know, and how do you know they have mastered that skill. Many times I think educators assume students have mastered skills that they have not.

What activities, organizations, hobbies, etc. do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Reading, canoeing, crafting, and quilting.

What was your favorite pizza topping?
Just cheese, please.

What was your favorite childhood television show?
Bewitched, thus I have a daughter named Tabitha.

Got any good or favorite math jokes?
Why was the math book so sad? It had too many problems! LOL