Octavia Sansing-Rhodes

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As a teacher, I understand my students frustrations with math because I was once that student, said Sansing-Rhodes. (Photo Courtesy of Octavia Sansing-Rhodes)
As a teacher, I understand my students frustrations with math because I was once that student, said Sansing-Rhodes. (Photo Courtesy of Octavia Sansing-Rhodes)

Occupation: Math Teacher

Why does she stand out?

Overcoming a childhood struggle with math has empowered Octavia Sansing-Rhodes to help eliminate much of the self-doubt and anxiety her students now experience when learning the subject.

The educator was recently recognized by WGN-TV as Teacher of the Month and was nominated for the award by a thankful student.

After years of failing the Illinois Standard Achievement Test (ISAT), my student Giovanni Fowler finally passed the math in 2011. He was very proud of himself and kept telling me that I should win a teacher award and that he was going to nominate me for an award, said Sansing-Rhodes .

Weeks later, Sansing-Rhodes was informed she had been selected for the honor at a staff meeting. The look on my face was priceless, she said when she found out about the accolade.

Sansing-Rhodes has been teaching for five years. She worked in corporate America before going back to school to pursue a masters degree in education.

One day I was riding the bus and sat next to a group of unruly middle school students. On that ride home I realized that I had more to offer and wanted to become a teacher, she told the Chicago Citizen.

The educator said she understands the importance of math in everyday life and it inspires her while teaching.

Being fluent in math makes life easier; a calculator is not always going to be around and it takes too long to find it on a cell phone! I try to provide real world examples to each math concept taught so that my lessons run full circle.

By Thelma Sardin

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