Three Carson City math teachers honored for excellence

Three local educators — Kristin Cable of Eagle Valley Middle School, Shanell Cavener of Carson High School and Wendy Petty of Carson Middle School — were recently honored as Outstanding Math Educators by the Northern Nevada Mathematics Council.

The council is a nonprofit teacher organization serving members throughout Nevada. It’s an affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics as well as the Nevada Math Council and the California Math Council.

Each council believes all students have the capacity to become mathematically competent and confident. They’re dedicated to promoting professional activities to ensure continual improvement toward excellence in the teaching of mathematics.

Cable has been teaching at Eagle Valley Middle School since 2015. She teaches algebra 1, eighth grade pre-algebra and eighth grade Gifted and Talented Education (GATE). She also serves on the Math Advisory Council and as the Professional Learning Community (PLC) content leader for algebra 1. Cable earned a master’s in teaching and specialization in educational technology from National University in La Jolla, Calif., as well as a bachelor’s in mathematics from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt.

Cavener has taught math at Carson High School since 2012. During her tenure there, she has implemented Common Core State Standard curriculum for geometry and honors geometry. Her teaching assignments have included algebra, algebra strategies, geometry and honors geometry. She also serves as a Link Crew co-coordinator, leader for geometry PLC and is a contributing member of the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Committee and Senator Pride. Cavener earned a master’s in curriculum and instruction, K-12 mathematics from Concordia University Online in Portland, Ore., as well as a bachelor’s in secondary mathematics education from the University of Nevada, Reno. She also earned an associate’s degree from Western Nevada College in Carson City.

Following the birth of their three biological children, Petty and her husband were foster parents to nearly 50 children. After they adopted 10 foster children, their family household brimmed with as many as 13 children. In addition to being a foster parent, she was a surrogate for education rights in California and a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in the foster care system.

Petty has been teaching math at Carson Middle School since 2014. She earned three associate’s degrees with honors (mathematics and science, natural sciences and elementary education) from San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, Calif. She later earned a bachelor’s in mathematics from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, and is pursuing a master’s in business administration from Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah.