The Presidential Award means a great deal to me. Earning this prestigious award would elevate my status in the mathematics education field to one of respect and honor. Being recognized for my commitment and dedication to the profession shows appreciation for hard work. The Presidential Award illustrates that I model excellence and can be a leader in my field. This award invigorates me to take up new and challenging endeavors that may benefit the field of education.

Linda Bensyl Wayland, MI | 7-12, Mathematics, 2017

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Linda Bensyl has been an educator for 27 years. She has spent the last 21 years teaching mathematics at Wayland Union High School where she currently teaches 9-12th-grade Algebra 2 and Advanced Placement Statistics. Linda serves as the School Improvement Chair and is a co-advisor for the Wayland Chapter of the National Honor Society. Previously, she taught at Evart High School and Farwell High School. In her classroom, Linda uses student-driven research projects and the creation of virtual resources to aide her students. Linda's dedication to education is shown through her service on a variety of committees ranging from technology integration to being a member of the school's leadership team. She has presented at numerous events such as Wayland’s professional development sessions, the Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics conference, and an Advanced Placement College Board conference. Seeking innovative opportunities for positive change in the classroom, Linda has received multiple grants. She was also a recipient of the Classroom Improvement Technology Initiative from Turning Technologies and NBC Learn. Linda earned a Ph.D. in mathematics with a concentration in education from Central Michigan University. She is a certified 7-12 mathematics and general science educator.

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