From Ms. Collier:

I earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics degree in 1986 and a Master of Science in Mathematics degree in 1988, both from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. I worked as a teaching assistant during my graduate studies in order to help pay for my education. At that point I had never thought of teaching as a career, but I loved it from the first day that I stepped into a classroom.

In 1989 I helped establish a Mathematics Tutorial Center for Christian Brothers University and taught there part-time for several years. From 1989 to 2001 I taught at State Technical Institute at Memphis (now called Southwest Tennessee Community College). When I left I was an Associate Professor specializing in Remedial and Developmental Mathematics.

As a faculty member at State Tech, I did a great deal of committee and grant work. I was extremely active in the American Mathematics Association of Two-Year Colleges, speaking at two of their national conferences, at five other state and regional conferences, and at many of my own college’s in-service training seminars. The topics on which I presented information included student and program assessment, teacher evaluation, collaborative learning, reaching at-risk student populations, critical thinking, technology and manipulatives in the classroom, countering math anxiety, and teaching strategies for math teachers and tutors. Dr. Cleaves, my department chairperson, and Dr. Hobbs, my mentor, are credited with teaching me how to teach while at State Tech and providing me with numerous opportunities to learn and grow as a teacher. As writers of numerous national textbooks in math and business, they also introduced me to what would develop into my next job.

In 2002, a call from a friend opened up the world of textbook writing and test development. I worked at home for Words & Numbers, a company in Baltimore, Maryland, from 2002 until summer 2007. As a contract writer for educational software, test banks, and teacher editions of textbooks, I wrote that from which I now teach! It was a great experience, but I was ready to get back to teaching. I always wanted to teach high school math and am thrilled to have the opportunity at BHS!

I have two children who attend Austin Peay Elementary – a son in 5th grade and a daughter in Kindergarten. While working at home I also homeschooled my son, an experience we both enjoyed. I learned so much in my second education with him; I discovered that I actually like history and grammar! We all went to school together this fall and thus far are doing well. I am active in the Children’s Ministry where I attend, Bartlett Baptist Church. I wear a completely different “hat” there – serving as Pre-School Director for Vacation Bible School for the last few years and helping in the pre-school department for other events as well. The Lord has lead me through many life changes this year and brought me here to BHS. I am excited to see what happens next!