The Intel Foundation presents a $10,000 award to the Urban Assembly School for Applied Math and Science.
A Bronx middle school recently took home a prestigious national prize for outstanding math instruction.
The Intel Foundation honored the Urban Assembly School for Applied Math and Science with the 2009 “School of Distinction Award” for innovative teaching and outstanding achievement in middle school mathematics — an award that includes $10,000 in prize money and a technology package valued at more than $100,000.
“This award makes me feel honored to be in this school,” eighth grader Sammy Fernandez said. “The classes are interactive. I remember one time, we made pulleys and axles to learn about simple machines and it helped us understand the math.
The school won the award thanks to its applied mathematics curriculum and its annual middle school mathematics tournament, which draws competitors from across all five boroughs and has become New York City’s major middle school math contest.
“We are so proud of our award,” Principal Kenneth Baum said. “Math is continually celebrated here and we work hard to teach it in a supportive, creative way. We are thrilled to be honored for making math exciting and relevant.”
Principal Baum plans to use the award money to fund overnight field trips to study ecology and to enhance the school’s math curriculum with an interactive math video game.