10/27/2025 09:14:00 AMMeet Lauren Hawkins, UNT alumna, algebra educator, and instructional coach who currently works for Richardson ISD.AlumniMathematicsTeach North TexasarticleMeet Lauren Hawkins, UNT alumna, algebra educator, and instructional coach who currently works for Richardson ISD. She received her B.A. from the UNT mathematics department in 2011 and recently acquired a M.S. from Colorado State University after many years cultivating a successful teaching career.  “UNT taught me that math is collaborative and that it’s okay to get it wrong; getting it wrong is how I came to learn math at deeper levels,” said Lauren. “As I worked on my teaching certification at Teach North Texas, I felt safe to ask questions and try out different styles of teaching so that when I finally had my classroom, I felt confident.”  Some of Lauren’s favorite memories from UNT were from the study groups she attended, where she formed friendships and learned from fellow students. Lauren said that her experience working in the math lab as a grader and tutor shaped her ideas about what it meant to be an educator.  “Being a tutor pushed me to reimagine math and explore different ways to reach each individual student coming in for help. It helped me fine-tune the questions I would ask in a classroom to help students process their learning,” said Lauren. “As a grader, it was eye-opening to see all the different misconceptions students had about math. This helped me have a better understanding of common pitfalls to address in my future classroom.”  She said one of the highlights of her career so far is being a state finalist for the National Science Foundation’s Presidential Award in Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST) in 2017.  “I have taught everything from ESL Algebra 1 all the way through AP Statistics,” she said. “It felt so validating knowing that my students, school, district, and my state understood my commitment to student learning and success. It was beyond humbling and still feels surreal at times.”  Her goals for her still-blossoming career in math education include being able to offer high school dual credit statistics courses to help students secure better college opportunities.   “I would really love to work as a professor helping future math teachers or teaching college math courses,” she said. “The best part about my job is seeing students get excited about discoveries and making connections. Watching all levels of students work through their understanding is a joy to experience.”  In her spare time, Lauren enjoys cycling and reading, specifically science fiction, thrillers, and books about math education (some favorites: Math Therapy, Calculus Diaries, and Here’s Looking at Euclid).