Shana Rillan (Rill) Pruski was shocked when East Central ISD superintendent Gary Paterson and other officials presented her with flowers this week. Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Bernie Young told her, "This is just the beginning." She had no idea she had been selected as the ExCEL Award winner. An SACU representative presented the 8th grade math teacher with a check for $1000 and Deborah Knapp gave her the KENS 5 SACU Golden Apple ExCEL Award. Mrs. Pruski works every day to help her 8th grade students understand not just math concepts, but why they are important in life.
"So this is a really important thing for us to figure out. How much are we going to pay for a car?," she asks her class. Using real life examples, students gain a better understanding of the importance of math in their lives.
"It isn't just 'Oh, no one's going to ask me what's 2x minus 7. Nobody cares. It's can you take that math and apply it," Pruski says.
It's helped 8th grade student Jaelynn Clark have a different attitude about math.
"Now I realize I'll use it a lot when I get older for cars and house and stuff like that," Jaelynn said.
A former civil engineer, Ms. Pruski felt the calling to teach and changed careers.
"I really desperately wanted to pass on information to kids and make them have that 'Aha moment"
You never get tired of that as a teacher. I really wanted to come in and make a difference" Pruski said.
In talking to her students, it's clear she has made that difference.
"Math used to be my least favorite subject. I struggled a lot but Mrs.Pruski helped me with it and now I'm doing a lot better compared to last year," said 8th grade student Phillip Cortez.
Fellow student Quincy Loud echos the same feeling.
"I'm doing really good, better than last year," said Quincy.
Mrs. Pruski has discovered a formula you won't find in a textbook, it's only found in this outstanding teacher's classroom.
"The kids bring you joy and laughter and a different point of view. The older I get, the younger I feel because I'm around them."
