Kristen Smith is a graduate student in George Mason University’s Mathematics Specialist Leadership Program. She was recently recognized by Roanoke County Schools and IXL as an Outstanding Participant in the 2026 March Mathness competition. March Mathness is a district-wide initiative designed to support SOL review in an engaging and motivating way, using the IXL platform to reinforce math skills through consistent practice. Keep reading to learn more about her experience and for advice she has for prospective and current students.
Schools across the district participate and are randomly assigned to one of four themed teams. This year, Smith’s school was part of the “Guardians of Geometry.” Scores are calculated based on the number of student proficiencies earned divided by the number of participating students, which emphasizes both student effort and overall participation.
This year marked the third annual competition, and Glen Cove Elementary (where Smith is currently employed) earned 1st place overall, with their team also placing 1st among the four district teams. In addition to their school’s success, Smith was honored as one of the top three participants at Glen Cove based on her individual contribution to student proficiency growth.
What does receiving this award mean to you?
“Receiving this award means more to me than the award itself. It means bringing recognition of math to my school and highlighting its importance. This award reflects students getting excited about math and shines a spotlight on math across our school, which is what I love most.”
How has our Math Specialist Leadership Program prepared you for your career?
“The Math Specialist Leadership Program at George Mason has prepared me for my career as an educator. While this award recognizes my work with IXL, the program helped me understand that meaningful math instruction goes far beyond any single tool or resource. It has expanded my understanding of the social justice issues that exist within education, particularly in mathematics education, and challenged me to think deeply about equity, access, and student opportunity. Most importantly, it provided me with the experience, knowledge, and leadership skills needed to design and implement high-quality math instruction that supports and empowers all students within my classroom.”
What advice would you give to prospective and current students?
“For prospective students, I would say that this program is truly a gamechanger. It deepens your own understanding of mathematics while helping you understand how and why math is taught the way it is. It challenges you to think differently about teaching and learning and prepares you to become a stronger, more reflective educator.
For current students, my advice is to embrace every opportunity to learn and grow. You are surrounded by an incredible community of support – from professors and office staff to fellow students and alumni. Everyone in the program genuinely wants to help you succeed, and that sense of collaboration and encouragement is one of the most valuable parts of the experience.”