Lux teacher Maggie Scott wins state math award for engaging lessons

October 6, 2025

Maggie Scott added a statewide award to her resume this fall for helping Lux Middle School learners multiply their math knowledge.
 
Scott received the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Mathematics (NATM) Rookie of the Year Award at the group’s state conference Oct. 3. Scott, a second-year teacher at Lux, has generated a large amount of applause in school hallways for her enthusiastic leadership style. She has helped her students learn how to organize data in a scatterplot, use the Pythagorean Theorem and solve many mathematical equations through her engaging lessons.

 
NATM President Karla Bandemer said Scott was well-deserving of the statewide honor. The NATM established the award in 2000 to honor new teachers who demonstrate outstanding classroom management and mathematics knowledge. Nominees must teach at a Nebraska public or private school and have been in their career for three or fewer years.
 
“Maggie is a prime example of the young talent that is coming into the field at a critical time,” Bandemer said. “Her passion for deep and meaningful mathematics learning for each and every one of her students, and her belief that all students are capable of learning mathematics at high levels, is evident every day in her classroom.”

 
Lux Principal Duane Dohmen said he was proud of Scott for using her classroom talents to help others.
 
“Maggie is an amazing choice for this award,” Dohmen said. “Although Maggie is only in her second year, she has worked very hard to be an effective teacher. It is important for her to provide effective instruction. This is more than her job; this is her passion. That belief is what makes her a great teacher.”
 
Dohmen joined Lincoln Public Schools K-12 Math Curriculum Specialist Josh Males and LPS Middle School Math Coordinator Becky Evans for a surprise announcement at Lux in late September. Scott’s fellow teachers burst into applause when they learned she had been selected for the honor.
 
Scott said she has tallied many memorable moments with students in her classroom. She said they are her inspiration for coming up with creative ways to teach math concepts.
 
“They make my job really, really fun,” Scott said. “I love thinking about them when I’m planning my lessons, because I want to make it something they would get excited about. They really are why I come to work every day and why I try so hard at this. I’m doing it for them.”

 
Scott’s high-quality lessons are a primary reason why Evans nominated her for the award. One of those examples came last spring during a Barbie bungee activity for Math Course 3 students. Eighth graders measured how many rubber bands needed to be tied to Barbie’s feet to make the best possible bungee jump for her. They then tested their linear equations in Lux’s hallway by watching their Barbies soar from the ceiling.
 
“Her thoughtfulness and self-reflection translate into the classroom, with each lesson intentionally planned to capture the intrigue of her students while maintaining high academic expectations,” Evans said in her nomination letter. “Her passion for learning and mathematics is infectious in her classroom.”
 
Scott began her post-secondary career as a math major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She was required to do an internship to get credit for an honors course the summer before her sophomore year, and she chose to work at local elementary schools with CEDARS Youth Services. Her positive experience convinced her that teaching would be a rewarding job.
 
“I just sort of fell in love with working with students and helping them with all of their things, so I talked to my advisor and asked, ‘How difficult would it be to add an education major to my math major?’” Scott said. “They said that would be possible, so I went for it.”

 
Scott said many Lux co-workers – particularly fellow math instructor Valerie Gerdes – have been a deep source of encouragement for her. She has asked them about their instructional strategies, listened to their teaching advice and developed friendships throughout the school building.
 
Bandemer, who is a math teacher leader for grades 3-5 at LPS, said those positive relationships make a huge difference for people across Lincoln.
 
“Having strong mentors to support our youngest teachers is so crucial,” Bandemer said. “Learning is a social endeavor for students and for teachers. When our newest teachers like Maggie have regular opportunities to collaborate and learn with their experienced peers, they naturally begin to build their support network. As teachers, we have a collective responsibility for student learning and for supporting one another.”
 
Dohmen said Scott has become a thriving teacher because of her top-notch communication skills, deep content knowledge, engaging personality and willingness to work hard at her craft. Adding enthusiasm to that equation of talents has helped her reach a statewide level of success at Lux.
 
“I think the biggest factor is her passion,” Dohmen said. “She was made to teach. As a result, she is able to advocate, relate and care for all students. It is important for all students to have equal access and for all students to learn. She has built a community of learners, and she has created a positive culture of learning. This is what teaching and learning is supposed to look like.”
 
Math teachers across LPS are sharing their knowledge with students on subjects ranging from algebraic equations to statistical computations. Learn more about math course descriptions, outlines of class schedules and educational links for students at home.lps.org/math.
 
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