Champions
of Math

Join us in celebrating the people who make First in Math special

Hall of Fame

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An annual award given to the #1 Player First in Math player across all grades!

James O'Shea

Eighth-grader James O’Shea claimed the title of #1 Player in the First In Math® Online Program for the 2009-2010 school year, after finishing as runner-up the previous year. A student at St. Laurence School in Philadelphia, O’Shea led the competition for months, earning 42,000 Stickers by the April 30 deadline. “I was very determined to win,” he says, though he will miss playing next year. Along with his National All Star Award, he received the Grand Prize—an Apple® iTouch. This fall, he will attend Devon Preparatory School and hopes to one day study at Princeton.

Honorable Mentions

Players

Valentino Papa (PA) Anthony Harwell (TX) Mark Stenske (PA) John Francis (CA) Alice Hu (PA) Caleb McCammon (MD) Andrew Walters (PA) Martyna Bielawska (PA)

Team Leaders

Cherylene McClendon (PA) Marc Horowitz (FL) Kristin Meis (FL) Colleen Armor (PA) Norma J. Lara (NM) Christine Cardone (PA) Neil Beitman (PA) Monica Patel (PA) Bill O'Connell (PA) Lisa Butchy (PA) James Lara (NM) Beth Walker (NC) Chris Sakers (MD)

Schools

St. Joseph the Worker (PA) AMY Northwest (PA) OLMBS School (PA) Leeds MS (PA) Calverton ES (MD) St. Laurence School (PA) Rocky Mountain ES (GA) St. Pius X (PA) Willyard ES (OH) Frank ES (PA) Indian Trace ES (FL)

Top Educator Players

2010

Spirit in Education

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A monthly award given to an educator who has been actively talking about math achievement on social media channels.

December

Rachel DeCarlo

- @rachel_decarlo

4th grade LTS teacher, Maple Glen Elementary Upper Dublin School District, PA

2020

November

Melissa Walsh

- @PalmerPanthers1

Interventionist, Palmer Elementary School Easton Area School District, PA

2020

October

Sonia Batista

- @Ms_Batista5

Grade 3 Math Teacher, Oak Tree Road School Woodbridge Township School District, NJ

2020

September

Samantha Brown

- @MrsBrown

Grade 2 Math Teacher, Freetown ES Anne Arundel County Public Schools, MD

2020

June

Shannon Ziemer

- @MDCityMath

Title 1 Math Teacher, Maryland City Anne Arundel County Public Schools, MD

2020

May

Kathy Benton

- @KathyBenton72

Grade 3, Glendale Elementary School Anne Arundel County Public Schools, MD

2020

April

Katie Gould

- @Gouldkm21

Math & Science Specialist, Mueller Elementary School Klein Independent School District, Spring, TX

2020

March

Jennifer Gleason

- @cmespds

Grade 3 Teacher, Crofton Meadows Elementary School Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Crofton, MD

2020

February

Allison Joy Russell

- @joy2teachem

2nd Grade Teacher, Honey Creek Elementary School Rockdale County Public Schools, Conyers, GA

2020

January

Domenick Renzi

- @mustang_math

BSI math Teacher, Wedgwood Elementary School Washington Township Public Schools, Sewell, NJ

2020

December

Kimberly O'Neal

- @kloneal2

District Coordinator Klein Independent School District, Klein, TX

2019

November

Greg DeStasio

- @MrDeStasioFB

Grade 5 Teacher Freemansburg Elementary School Bethlehem Area School District, Freemansburg, PA

2019

Dr. Lola J. May Award

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An annual award given to educators who exemplify Lola's spirit.

2023

Jeff Markham

A teacher at Clearview ES in the Bethlehem Area SD for 20+ years, Jeff Markham is the 2023 recipient of the Dr. Lola J. May Award. "I have always enjoyed using First in Math for everything from enrichment to support. It is a wonderful complement to the curriculum and allows my students to practice skills in a fun & engaging way. This year our students ranked 9th in the nation! I am so proud of them!"

Silver Medal

Robert Beck Hiland Park ES, Bay County SD, FL

Bronze Medal

Mary Higgins St. Laurence School, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, PA

About Dr. May

Dr. Lola J. May (1923-2007) was a noted mathematics educator, consultant, author and producer of audio-visual materials. A pioneer in mathematics education and an early proponent of the new math educational process, May was beloved by her students, and became a household name among mathematics educators.