Kira Christensen Dylla, was a high school math teacher at the time of her award.
Since being honored by the Milken Family Foundation, she was named a top 30 Under 30 Innovative Educator by the national online magazine Splashlife, received a Leadership in Education Award from the South Dakota Department of Education and was honored as Faculty of the Year by the Washington High School student newspaper.
At the time of her award, Dylla had become a master of mathematics instruction in just five short years. Math achievement scores at Washington High had risen dramatically as a result of her energetic teaching strategies.
Using differentiated instruction and best practices techniques, such as Marzano’s and 21st Century Learning skills, Dylla taught upper- and lower-division math classes with a strong emphasis on technology. She organized and taught a day-long district workshop for students on the effective use of Texas Instruments graphing calculators. Dylla also provided training for teachers in both math and science at the district level, and served on the district’s curriculum writing committee. Her efforts were rewarded with a prestigious invitation: Dylla became one of only 30 teachers in the country asked to participate in a Leadership Development Group at Texas Instruments, a gathering for those who understand the power of the calculator.
2010 University of Michigan - Flint, M.A. Technology in Education - Global Program
2004 Augustana College, B.A. Mathematics and Secondary Education
