Her Story
About Angie
I'm the Math Department Lead at New Dimensions High School, where I've been for about the past 15-16 years. I've been in education for at least 26 years, teaching since the 1990s, though I've also taken breaks to work in the business world. I teach all levels of math and have achieved a 95% pass rate for my students in recent years, which doesn't come easily. During Common Core, my students were actually in the top 1-2% of the entire state, and we've had national recognition, being 6th in the U.S. and 17th among charter schools nationally. New Dimensions High School is one of 30 schools started 22 years ago in Florida and was in the top 4% of the state. It's been an A school as long as I've been there. My key responsibilities include public outreach, maintaining refined interpersonal relationships with stakeholders including board members, parents, business owners, and students. I'm involved in school improvement plans, professional development plans, school safety, after-school programs, and fundraising opportunities. Early on, I started in architecture and switched to education about a year and a half before graduating. I worked as a project manager under a licensed architect named Tom Runa, AIA, and designed major projects including a bypass in Sandpoint, Idaho, downtown storefronts, a large Dover Complex with expensive homes and amenities, commercial buildings, and a yacht club area. In 2009, I started my own business, MathVideosForMe.com, an online math tutorial website that I ran until 2014. I was offered between a quarter and half million dollar contracts when I first came to Florida. I've also taught TV production courses at St. Cloud High School, where I maintained a control room, TV production room, and classroom all at once, delivering daily morning announcements to 214 teachers. I love the kids and have built a great rapport with the community and my students.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Angie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the lives of the people that I touch, honestly, and the outcomes of the success of the students from New Dimensions High School. Building those relationships is the most important key there, and I've built a reputation for myself in the community. The kids know me, love me, and I love them. It's really about showing up for them every day and giving my best, because when you're able to meet the needs of your students and help them succeed, that recognition and those outcomes are what matter most to me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from Dr. Tina Cafiero and Dr. Jackie Grimm, the two founders of our school. When we went through changes with new administrators, I knew that she believed in me, and I valued and respected their knowledge that I grew with. That value really did boil down to simplicity: if you teach them, they will learn. It's simple, but it hits home. She said that to me, and I knew what to do with that because there's more of an art and a science to teaching. There's so much more that goes into it that people don't know and realize. It's not something that everybody can just do. You have to learn and have that integrity and that mindset to be good at what you do.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just be patient with yourself, be kind. But be strong in mind and knowledge. Continue to gain the knowledge to help you to persevere. Always give your best and strive day-to-day to be the best that you can be and flourish. That's the mindset I have for my kids, and it's the same mindset I encourage for anyone entering this field.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Math is not easy. It's not easy for a lot of the kids, and there's a lot of real struggles that happen. When you're able to meet those needs of your students, the recognition that comes with that is critical, because it's very challenging, and teachers get tired at the end of the year, and that's why you need a little bit of a break to rejuvenate. Learning how to get over those hurdles in school is something not everybody is able to do. Some teachers can become affected by the stress or negativity. Learning how to pace yourself is an important quality, not only as an educator but also teaching your students how to deal with their stressors as well. You need to recognize that other people get it too, so your administrators are going to have those stressors at the end of the school year as well, as we're all facing senior prom and graduation and making sure students are prepared and equipped with the right mindset before they take on the real world.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, integrity, and a good work ethic are most important to me. I'm always striving day-to-day to be the best that I can be and flourish. That's the mindset I have for my kids too. You know, always give your best, and I always try to show up for them and do my best every day.
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