News at St. Catherine's
Math Chair Sharing Her Philosophy Around the Globe
Brett Golladay Degnan ‘97 believes there are two important priorities for deeper learning and retention when teaching Geometry: ample time for students to discuss problem-solving strategies and creating opportunities for students to discover new concepts by utilizing various art techniques.
“The connections between art and mathematics are clear, from architecture to graphic design, so I have incorporated art into my teaching and my professional contributions outside of school,” she said
Degnan, the Chair of St. Catherine's Math Department, is taking her philosophy on the road — in Richmond, New York and even the Netherlands. She is leading workshops for fellow teachers and professors focused on these concepts.
Her first workshop was held in March as a part of the Phi Beta Kappa Virginia Scholars Series, hosted at St. Catherine's. Among the attendees were professors from both VCU and Randolph-Macon who were on the planning committee for an international math and art conference held in Richmond. They were impressed with her work and she was invited to submit it to the BRIDGES Math and Art Conference. It was accepted and she presented at the Science Museum for their Family Day event as part of the international conference.
“At the event, I taught children and adults of all ages how to fold and create the 3D paper orbs I had been making with my math classes over the past few years,” Degnan said. “ In just four hours, we made 200 paper orbs!”
During that event, Degnan met the director of the National Museum of Mathematics, Cindy Lawrence. The result of the meeting was an invitation to present a 3D paper folding workshop at MoMath in December as part of their Family Fridays series. She will also present at the BRIDGES Conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands next July.
“Having connections to researchers and professionals outside of our community enhances what we can offer to enrich our students' educational experience,” Degnan said. “I'm very grateful to St. Catherine's for supporting the Phi Beta Kappa series, to our admissions office for sponsoring the table at the Science Museum and to our math department for the inspiration and encouragement of my colleagues.”
Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine’s School is a private, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. We provide a well-rounded educational experience for girls from communities across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central Virginia. St.Catherine’s all-girls educational experience is rooted in more than a century of history and tradition. From our revolutionary past to our dynamic present, St. Catherine’s has always focused on preparing students for a boundless future.
