Considering that 1+1 always equals 2, there doesn't seem to be room for much innovation in math.
But Sabino High School math teacher David Kukla won't let himself or his students be boxed in to such simple thinking.
"I have this notion of wanting the classroom not to be just a place where we cover this standard today," said Kukla, who has been teaching for 20 years. "I want it to be about giving practical experience and a larger growth opportunity."
It's that type of thinking that got Kukla named one of the nation's most innovative educators by the ING Unsung Heroes program. The recognition comes with a $2,000 grant, awarded to only 100 educators across the country. Kukla is now in the running for one of three top prizes - an additional $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000.
The award will help fund Kukla's project, "21st Century Student Learning: Think Global, Act Local," in which students will design and implement a green energy plan that reduces school resource use and energy costs.
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The project is designed to help students master the state's mathematics requirements. Kukla plans to incorporate students in his algebra, pre-calculus, trigonometry and AP calculus classes.
"I often feel like my students feel disempowered. They feel like things happen to them; They don't feel like the agents for change I know they can be.
"The first step in helping them realize their personal power is to help them create solutions to problems locally and tie that to issues globally."
In addition to creating the energy plan, Kukla wants his students to discuss energy use and climate change with kids in classrooms around the world using ePals and Skype.
That will be made possible in part by the grant money, which he intends to use for the purchase of Apple iPads.
Kukla hopes to have the green energy plan built by the end of the year and then have students over the next few school years work to implement it.
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Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at ahuicochea@azstarnet.com or 573-4175.
