Alabama Teacher of the Year leads ‘Math Vision Day’ at Greenwood Elementary

BESSEMER, Ala. — Educators from across the region gathered at Greenwood Elementary and two other local campuses Feb. 3 to reimagine the future of mathematics instruction during a "Math Vision Day" hosted by 2025-2026 Alabama Teacher of the Year Katie Collins. The professional development event brought together K-12 educators to collaborate on strategies for building deeper mathematical thinkers. The goal of the enrichment day was to empower teachers to return to their respective school communities with innovative techniques that can be immediately applied in the classroom.

A highlight of the day featured a live classroom demonstration by Greenwood Elementary's Mrs. Matthews. Her class was selected to showcase an active learning environment, allowing visiting educators to observe high-level math instruction in real time. "We are so proud of Mrs. Matthews and her class and all of our scholars here at Greenwood for always showing 'Dragon Power' in their daily learning," school officials said in a statement.

Collins, whose platform emphasizes strengthening mathematics across all grade levels, spent the day sharing her enthusiasm for education and spotlighting the talent within the Bessemer City Schools system. Administrators noted that the partnership between the state’s top educator and local faculty helps foster a culture where both teachers and students are encouraged to "dream bigger" regarding their academic goals.