Partnership Middle School 7th grade Math Teacher, Ashley Dauzat, has been named Mississippi's Middle School Math Teacher of the Year by the Mississippi Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM)
Partnership Middle School 7th grade Math Teacher, Ashley Dauzat, has been named Mississippi's Middle School Math Teacher of the Year by the Mississippi Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM). The 17-year veteran educator was awarded the honor at the MCTM annual conference in November.
"It is a tremendous honor for Ms. Dauzat to be nominated and selected by her peers across the state for this award," said SOCSD Superintendent, Dr. Tony McGee. "We are privileged to have her bring excellent teaching practices to our 7th graders each day, and are proud of how she represents the Jacket family sharing classroom insights with other math instructors."
The Mississippi Council of Teachers of Mathematics is the state affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and its members include math educators from across the state at the K-12 and collegiate level. The organization provides professional development for teachers in mathematics as well as the opportunity for teachers to learn and share best practices with other professionals in their field.
"The MCTM Middle School Math Teacher of the Year award was such an honor, and I’m grateful to represent our school and district," Dauzat said. "While I've taught at a variety of grade levels and subjects over the years, I've found my calling in middle school math where I can help students build confidence and a solid foundation for future learning."
During her 17-year career in teaching, Dauzat has taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels, and she credits each step along her journey with shaping how she approaches instruction and connecting with students in the classroom. She has served students in the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District since 2021 and says she was attracted to the district because of its commitment to prioritizing strong student relationships and academic success.
"I've learned that students engage best when learning feels relevant and approachable," she says. "But building strong relationships is just as important as students learn more when they feel safe to make mistakes, talk through their thinking, and try different strategies."
She says she tries to keep students engaged through a variety of teaching methods as well as consistent encouragement, and this approach helps students gain confidence in learning math concepts.
"Using hands-on tools, visual models, and real-world scenarios helps take the fear out of math and allows students to make meaningful connections," she says. "Plus, celebrating small successes goes a long way in keeping students motivated and confident."
In addition to teaching math, Dauzat also serves as team leader for her Partnership Middle School classroom pod, as well as the Math COUNTS sponsor, an opportunity for students at PMS to compete in individual and team challenges focused on math concepts. Outside the classroom, she also serves as Junior High Volleyball Coach.
When asked about working with middle schoolers, sometimes considered a tough age group to teach, Dauzat is quick to point out how her students inspire her to be the best teacher she can be.
"Middle schoolers truly have my heart," she says. "They're fun, curious, honest, and at an age where they are figuring out who they're becoming."
In her classroom, she says she most enjoys the moments when a concept finally clicks for students, and they start believing in themselves. She calls it the "lightbulb moments" when she gets to witness their growth and the pride they feel in accomplishing something they didn't think they could do.
"Knowing I can play a role in helping them see their own potential motivates me to give my best," she says. "Helping them grow academically and personally during such a pivotal time is incredibly rewarding. Their resilience, personalities, and progress remind me why I chose this career 17 years ago and why I still love it today."
This commitment to helping students learn, grow and gain confidence beyond just their math studies is a key reason Dauzat earned this statewide honor, and McGee praises how her approach fits into the district's overall hopes and goals for students.
"Ms. Dauzat is an example of the kind of instruction we want to deliver to students every day in the classroom," he says. "Whether it's in the math classroom, English or science, we want students to be excited to learn, motivated to collaborate and grow, and confident they can succeed. That's the most important thing."
