Bridgeport Middle School educator Elizabeth Holtz is the recipient of the West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics Teacher of the Year Award in the middle school division.

 

“It really was not a surprise to me that she won this award,” said BMS Principal Dave Mazza. “Mrs. Holtz always builds trusting, personal and professional relationships with her students. Her passion and understanding of math shape her classroom into an engaging student-centered learning environment.”

 

The award was presented at Stonewall Resort, where the Council’s mathematic conference was held over the weekend.

 

Holtz and her husband Jason attended, but she had no idea she was receiving an award.

 

“Mr. Mazza asked if I would attend a banquet to receive an award on behalf of BMS,” she said. “I didn’t even know the conference was happening.”

 

Mazza had told Holtz that both he and Assistant Principal Gary Oldaker would be out of town and unable to attend. The rest of the story was that Mazza and Mrs. Orton, who also teaches 7^th grade math at BMS, had been let in on the surprise that Holtz was receiving the statewide award.

 

“I’m a ‘yes man’ and do what I’m asked most of the time,” Holtz said. “I thought it would be a nice evening away to have dinner with my husband. I was totally wiling to do that. I’m proud of my school and wanted to represent it the best I could.”

 

As the evening unfolded, there was a spoiler alert, however.

 

“I kind of put 2 and 2 together toward the end of the banquet. There had been no award for BMS and the only thing left were Teacher of the Year awards, so I started getting suspicious,” she said.

 

Plus, her husband had kind of tipped her off earlier in the event.

 

“We sat at a table next to the presenters and my husband had leaned over and whispered to me that he thought I was getting an award," Holtz said. "He saw my name written on a paper.”

 

When her name was announced, Holtz said she was happy and humbled.

 

“I was shocked because I just feel underserving of this award,” she said. “I feel like there are so many teachers who deserve this award and I’m so humbled I was chosen and nominated for it.”

 

It was her former student teacher, Glen Smithberger, who nominated her for the award.

 

“I think it’s so cool that he took the time to do that,” Holtz said. “He doesn’t even teach in West Virginia anymore, so the fact that he went through the process of nominating me and getting all the information he needed speaks volumes to me.”

 

The nomination and selection had been kept secret until Smithberger was informed his candidate had won and he thereafter contacted Mazza and Orton, so they could make sure she was present for the award.

 

This is Holtz’s 10^th year teaching 7^th grade math at BMS. Before that, she taught one year at Bridgeport High School. She said she is passionate about her profession.

 

“So many students struggle with math and dislike it and I want to teach them that mathematics can be fun and, yes, it’s a challenge, but a challenge they can overcome. I want to give them the tools to do that.”

 

Holtz said she knew at a very young age that she wanted to grow up to be a teacher.

 

“From the time I was little, I had a desk at home and would make up tests and give them to my brother,” she said.

 

It wasn’t until her senior year of high school, however, that she knew she would follow a teaching path in mathematics.

 

“I had a calculus teacher – Mr. Gary Wandel – and he was so motivating and so kind,” she said. “That’s what inspired me to pursue math.”

 

Holtz is certified to teach math in grades through 9^th, but she does have an elementary education degree.

 

She attended high school in Connellsville, Pa. and received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from West Virginia University.

 

Holtz said she couldn’t do what she does without the amazing people with whom she works.

 

“The administration, office staff and my fellow teachers make a great team for sure,” she said.

 

BMS is very fortunate to have Holtz on board in its math department, Mazza said.

 

“Her students always feel challenged and own their learning,” he said. “When they leave her classroom, they know that Mrs. Holtz genuinely cares about them.”

 

Elizabeth and Jason Holtz have two children, 11-year-old Jackson and 5-year-old Gideon. The family lives in Bridgeport. 

 

Editor's Note: Pictured from top is Holtz with some of her BMS students, receiving the award from Myrtle Holland of the West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics, with husband Jason and with her boys, Jackson and Gideon.