Recently, Kelly Taylor and Laura Surdeanu represented Manzanita and Catalina Foothills School District at the 22nd annual Mathematics Educator Appreciation Day (MEAD) Conference—Arizona's largest mathematics education event. Laura is the coach of Manzanita's math club.
The duo presented "Math Club Made Easy: Lessons, Practice, and Play That Work," sharing Manzanita's successful approach to competitive elementary mathematics. Their presentation drew mathematics educators from across Arizona who were eager to learn how Manzanita balances rigor with engagement, challenge with support, and competition with collaboration.
MEAD 2026 featured more than 150 sessions at Tucson High Magnet School, led primarily by classroom teachers sharing effective strategies and innovative ideas from their own practice.
"Kelly and I had a great time representing CFSD," Surdeanu shared. "It was wonderful to share what makes Manzanita Math Club work—the balance of challenge, support, and genuine joy in problem-solving."
For 22 years, MEAD has welcomed thousands of teachers to professional conversations that both engage and appreciate mathematics educators. The conference is organized by the Center for Recruitment and Retention of Mathematics Teachers (CRR) at the University of Arizona.
Congratulations to Kelly and Laura for sharing Manzanita's mathematics excellence with educators across Arizona!
We're proud of the Math Club program they've built and can't wait to see this year's team in action.