Nathan Kenny is a National Board Certified Teacher teaching math and statistics in Tuscaloosa, AL at Hillcrest High School. Kenny has been teaching for 10 years and was recently named the 2022 ACTM High School Teacher of the year, a 2023 PAEMST state finalist, and a Master Teacher Fellow in an NSF grant. As an MTF, Kenny is working to improve education in the local area through developing learning communities centered around relationships, pedagogy, and content knowledge. “I have been married to my fantastic wife Morgan for 6 years, and we have a 2 year old son named Alex.”
Why did you decide to go into Statistics/Statistics Education?
I originally got a BS in Civil Engineering, but I began tutoring while in college and realized that I wanted students to have a different experience than what I was seeing. In my second year, I moved back to the Tuscaloosa area to pursue a degree in education, and despite explicitly indicating the only course I would be uncomfortable with was statistics, I was gifted an AP Statistics course. I have been thankful ever since because I realized the beauty of asking questions about the world we live in and collecting data to make predictions about that world.
What's a class/workshop at your workplace/university that you wish you could take and why?
I would love to actually take a computer programming course. With my main focus on teaching mathematics and statistics, I have not made the time to learn such a skill, but I think that such a course could significantly improve my ability to teach my students statistics and begin diving into data science.
What Statistics Topic do you think is the most difficult to teach well?
Oh in my opinion the concept of power in statistical tests is definitely the most difficult concept to teach.
What advice would you give to someone who is new to teaching statistics?
Dive into the world around you. The world your students exist within is rich with data, and that world intrigues them more than any textbook exercise ever could.
What is your go-to source for data?
I honestly don't pull enough data from online and would love to find some better sources, but I usually generate data in class or have students collect data from around the school before class in some form.
What statistics class(es) are you currently teaching? What statistics classes do you enjoy teaching the most?
I just have an AP Statistics course that I get to teach this year, but I am working towards getting a data science course on the books.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
Oh I absolutely love playing board games and RPGs with my friends. A few of our most recent additions to the board game collection are Spirit Island, My Father's Work, and Root.
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