By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
One of the best math teachers in the nation grew up in Waterford and now plies his trade at Whitewater High School.
It’s not bragging or boasting to say this about Michael Tamblyn, who in late June was honored by the White House as one of 97 recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Tamblyn is the son of Lynn and Joanne Tamblyn. He and his family moved to Waterford in 1975. He graduated from Waterford High School in 1986 and the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1991.
Tamblyn is in his 21st year as a teacher. He started his career teaching at Hortonville High School, later taught at Big Foot High School and has spent the last 11 years at Whitewater High School.
Tamblyn also holds a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of New Hampshire, located in Durham, N.H.
Tamblyn and his wife, Amanda, live in Fort Atkinson with their two sons.
Tamblyn and his wife and parents attended ceremonies held at The White House for this year’s award winners.
Tamblyn met Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and also Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, among others.
President Obama had been expected to greet this year’s winners, but missed the ceremony in order to fly from Washington D.C. to Colorado to view wildfires that were ravaging that state.
According to a press release distributed by The White House, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is awarded annually to outstanding teachers of science and mathematics from kindergarten through the 12th grade.
The winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians and educators following a selection process at the state level. Each year the award alternates between teachers teaching kindergarten through 6th grade and those teaching 7th through 12th grades.
The 2011 awardees teach 7th through 12th grades.
If not for a personal epiphany in college Tamblyn might not be an educator, and certainly not an award-winning leader in his field.
“I figured I was strong in math and the sciences, so I took my math and calculus and physics and chemistry,” Tamblyn said. “At first I didn’t know what I was going to do with the math.”
Tamblyn said he considered becoming an actuary. Actuaries do statistical analysis, most notably for insurance companies.
“I didn’t see where, other than money, the fulfillment would come, at that point,” Tamblyn said.
Teaching presented itself as the finest option, and Tamblyn rose to become one of the best.
Tamblyn attributes career development to his success. Aside from earning a master’s degree, he also is an active member of the Wisconsin Mathematics Council. According to its website, the WMC was formed to lead in the development of, advocate for, and promote quality mathematics education for all students.
Tamblyn said he attends the group’s annual conference in Green Lake, and in recent years also served as a presenter.
“When I was in college my professor said math teachers should go to this event,” Tamblyn said. “I went and I was flabbergasted by all the great information I was able to get from all these great math teachers from all around the state.”
He also helps train future math teachers at both the UW-Madison and UW-Whitewater.
At Whitewater High School Tamblyn teaches Advanced Placement Calculus, Pre-Calculus and an Algebra course, and said in the past he’s also taught Geometry.
His pedagogy differs from that of some math teachers. Rote repetition of skills is discouraged, and Tamblyn instead encourages students to reach a higher understanding of the math skills they’re working to acquire.
“I’m a big proponent of kids discussing ideas in math,” Tamblyn said.
As for the future, Tamblyn said he’s pleased with where he’s at in his career.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’m pretty content doing what I’m doing,” Tamblyn said.
Editor Patricia Bogumil contributed to this story.
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