NEWS

Dr. Kim Neal, assistant professor of mathematics, has been selected as a South Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics (SCCTM) fellow and ambassador. The announcement came during the Council’s conference last week in Greenville. 

Neal is one of 12 new ambassadors from across South Carolina. During her two-year term, Neal will work to advance and promote math education at Newberry College by supporting initiatives that strengthen student interest, teacher preparation, and community engagement in mathematics. In addition, she will act as a mentor to new and applying members to SCCTM, help recruit potential new math teachers, and provide ongoing support to at least one new teacher.  
 

“It’s an honor to be selected as an ambassador for the South Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics,” said Neal. “I am committed to promoting math education at Newberry College by inspiring students to explore the beauty and importance of mathematics in their academic and professional journeys. This role will give me some direct contact with future education majors, math education majors, and hopefully grow our program.” 

Neal has more than 30 years of experience as a math educator, including serving as a middle and high school math teacher, department chair for the math department at Piedmont Technical College, including as a middle and high school math teacher, department chair for the math department at Piedmont Technical College, and the mathematics department chair for the SC Virtual School Program. Neal spent four years as a math teacher at Newberry High School before retiring after the 2023 school year.   

She wasn’t done mentoring and educating, though, and joined the Newberry College education faculty full-time in August of that same year. One of her goals since joining the faculty has been to increase the number of math education majors every year. When she started, there were two math education majors; currently, there are nine. 

“I’ve been working steadily, trying every time I can whenever coaches bring somebody through the hallways for a tour, ‘oh, what’s your major? Don’t you want to do math?’ If you don’t ask, you don’t know. I’m always out there trying to push for math majors.” 

 
Neal is excited about stepping into this new leadership and mentorship role with SCCTM and supporting the next generation of math educators. 

“My son said, ‘Mom, didn’t you retire? Why are you doing more stuff?’ I said, ‘Well, you know what? I’m not dead yet. As long as I can do something and make a difference, that’s what I want to do,’” she said. “My whole goal in life is to help students become the best that they can be in math education. Well, any student, for that matter, but I'm particularly fond of math education students. 

I want to help them achieve what they want to achieve for their life, and to help them learn the things that they need to be successful.” 

Learn more about math majors at Newberry College: https://www.newberry.edu/academics/areas-of-study/sciences-and-mathematics  

About the South Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics 

The South Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics was formed in the spring of 1978 and is an affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The organization supports mathematics educators at all levels – from kindergarten through college - by advocating at the state level for South Carolina educators and students; providing opportunities for leadership, professional development, and networking; and encourages the creation of research-based curriculum, instruction, and assessment.