"Parents are our partners in education and we need to include them in educating their children in as many ways as possible," says Judy Christiansen, a teacher of second-graders at West Ridge Elementary School in Harlan. An educator for 30 years, Mrs. Christiansen has developed numerous programs and activities to involve parents in what she feels are the two most crucial subject areas for students: math and science. She has developed cross-discipline take-home packets for K-3 classes, established Family Math and Science Nights and created after-school math clubs for fifth-graders. At local, state and national levels, Mrs. Christiansen has helped shape math education by mentoring colleagues, conducting workshops, developing lesson plans, and serving as a master teacher to pre-service teachers at Iowa State University. In 1991, Mrs. Christiansen received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Math Teaching.
1967 Buena Vista University, B.A.
