Angela Boxie considers it her greatest accomplishment whenever a student declares, “I enjoy math.” However, parents, the principal and district leaders point instead to her sixth-grade math scores, which typically exceed district averages by 24 percent and the state’s by 32 percent. A humble master teacher, Boxie was just one of only 17 teachers who qualified for the Louisiana Department of Education’s Elementary Mathematics Specialist certification in 2015. This credential is known to signify a level of proficiency in mathematics and content knowledge that parallels only a select group of teaching professionals.
Boxie employs a student-centered conceptual approach using real-life scenarios and problem-solving opportunities that empower her students to be a “community of learners” with her as the facilitator. She creates a trusting, positive, respectful work and learning environment and has the ability to reach all students, from gifted to special needs, encouraging them to achieve more than they thought possible. The math index for her regular education classes was ranked among the top 25 percent in the district while her advanced class ranked in the top one percent.
Her positive impact influences the school campus, the district and the community. Boxie is the math department chair and sixth-grade team leader at Edgar Martin Middle School as well as the math club sponsor and girls’ basketball coach. She also serves on the school improvement, crisis, and leadership teams. In the community, she volunteers at the local library and has participated at a summer camp program for Advancing Mathematics Excellence, aiding high-performing math students from low-performing schools. Boxie is a dedicated presenter during teacher in-services and state conferences, and mentors new teachers as well as field students from her alma mater, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Her math mastery benefits the entire district as a member of its Curriculum Revision Committee, taking part in policy decisions that ensure quality math instruction for students and resources for teachers throughout the Lafayette Parish School System.
Boxie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education in 2002 and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership in 2011, both from Southern University and A&M College. She earned a Master's +30 and Math Specialist Certification from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2015. Boxie is a member of both the Louisiana Association of Teachers of Mathematics (LATM) and the National Council of Teaching Mathematics (NCTM).
"One of the key factors in my decision to be an educator..." (read more)
