Granger Receives Teaching Excellence Award

Kimberlyann Granger, Ed.D., professor of mathematics at St. Louis Community College at Wildwood, is the 2023 recipient of the Missouri Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges' Teaching Excellence Award. As MOMATYC's statewide winner, she’ll move forward in the national Teaching Excellence Award program through the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC), a program that honors recipients for their contributions to mathematics education. 

For Granger, the MOMATYC award and her national nomination amplify her commitment to education, a passion she’s cultivated since childhood.

“I’ve always enjoyed math, from a very young age,” she said. “Starting in grade school, I liked helping my friends with their math. I knew I wanted to be a teacher from the time I was in first grade, so I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to fulfill my dream every day.”

To position herself for career success, Granger focused on her studies. Along with earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and English from Milligan College, she completed a master’s degree in mathematics from California State University in Fullerton and a doctoral degree in higher education leadership from the University of Southern California. 

An educator throughout her adult life, Granger launched her career as a middle school teacher. She taught in Hawaii and California for a decade before transitioning to higher education. 

In the fall of 2008, she was hired to teach math at STLCC-Wildwood. Today, she’s the most senior member of the faculty. In addition to teaching, she’s held several leadership roles over the years outside of the classroom, including serving as department chair, coordinator of the Center for Teaching and Learning, campus senate chair and general education coordinator.

Beyond STLCC, she’s prioritized professional development and has served in several statewide and national leadership roles. Among these, she’s a past president for MOMATYC and is currently serving as chair of AMATYC’s developmental education academic network. 

“Throughout my career, I’ve often tried new things in my classes to help my students increase their understanding of math and be more successful,” she said. 

In recent years, this has included “flipping” classes, which is a technique that involves creating videos for students to watch with the math content outside of class, then using class time to actively work on problems in groups. According to Granger, this nationally known best practice has been well received by students and has improved student learning.  As a result, she applied for a $150,000 grant, which she received through AMATYC, in cooperation with the National Science Foundation.

“It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to build upon the work I’ve been doing in my classroom in this way,” she said. “Now, I’m leading a team at STLCC, and collectively, we’re working to increase the use of active learning in our precalculus courses because we know this approach will benefit students.”

Stephen W. White, Ed.D., campus president and chief academic officer, commends Granger for her work because he understands the impact.

“As educators, it’s important to refine our practices so we can continue to connect with students and support their learning,” White said. “Professor Granger’s approach to teaching is a true reflection of her commitment to math education and her students.”