This week, we’re showing our #CPSDPride by giving a #SuperSchoolShoutout to Lochburn Middle School with math teacher Amelia Pernell and seventh grader DK Crawford.
Amelia joined the Lochburn team shortly after graduating with her master’s degree in 2019. This is her first year as the math department chair and she is enjoying the challenge. “I am proud of myself for stepping into this role and finding my own way to help our team be successful,” she said.
Amelia is driven by understanding what her students need for their future. She instills them with math tools they can use in everyday life. “I want my students to have a support system that makes them feel successful outside of my room so I’m not their only resource,” she said.
Amelia teaches honors algebra and seventh grade math. “I like the real-life concepts in seventh grade when students start solving things that connect to their world,” she said. “You can see the light switch on in their brains between lessons when students learn they have the tools to answer everyday problems.”
In seventh grade, DK is having an “all around” good time. “The teachers are really nice, I have a lot of friends in my class and I’m the class treasurer in ASB,” he said. “It’s cool to learn how to manage money and I get to work with awesome students on my team,” he said.
DK enjoys math class with Amelia and science class where he gets to learn about paleontology and studying maps. However, this year his favorite class is history with his teacher Ms. Sykes. “My mom used to teach me about history and where I’m from, so I think that’s why I still like history a lot,” he said.
DK is excited to play on the Lochburn basketball team this winter but envisions his future on the field, not the court. “My dream is to be in the NFL as a wide receiver,” he said. “I don’t have a specific team I want to play for. I just know it won’t be the Cowboys or the Jaguars.”
Go Lions! 🦁 #CPSDFutureReady #YouBelongWithCPSD