Ever since math teacher Marina Capen redesigned the calculus course at Souhegan High School in Amherst, AP Calculus scores have risen each year, with a dramatic increase in the number of students scoring a 5 on the test. An engaging and talented teacher acutely aware of the wide range of learning needs in her classroom, Capen differentiates her instruction, using a personalized approach to teaching her 11th and 12th graders. She developed a self-directed online unit on sequences and series, in which students learn and apply their knowledge both at school and at home through online tutorials, practice problems and assessments, games and tests. Capen also collaborated with a colleague to develop a three-year action research plan for integrating technology at Souhegan, then implemented the plan, collected and analyzed data, and presented their findings to an audience of peers. After taking Capen's calculus class in their third year, students are often inspired to take a fourth year of math.
1999 Keene State College, B.A.
