Hillhouse Math Teacher Honored With 'Essential Educator' Award

NEW HAVEN, CT — James Hillhouse High School mathematics teacher Audra Forstrom was recognized by Cambium Learning Group for "surpassing expectations" in her commitment to helping students and the community.

She was one of three teachers nationally who were honored with the 2022 Essential Educator Award.

Forstrom "went above and beyond in the 2021-2022 school year to solve challenges in the classroom," a news release reads.

“In the middle of some of the craziest and most challenging years in education, being recognized for my hard work is especially uplifting," Forstrom was quoted as saying. "I often feel as though students recognize my hard work, but it is a wonderful feeling to be recognized by those outside of the classroom as well."

Based in Dallas, Texas, Cambium Learning Group provides "award-winning education technology and services for PreK-12 markets." The Essential Educators Award program aligns with its "purpose of helping all teachers and students feel seen, valued and supported."

The winning teachers were selected based on written nominations from invited school districts and partners across the country. As part of the awards, Cambium is donating $1,000 in each winner’s honor to the Kids In Need Foundation, which empowers under-resourced teachers and students by providing the supplies they need to succeed.

In Forstrom's case, described as "warm and kind," she "supports and mentors new and struggling teachers."

Employing "teaching strategies," many of which are "enriched" with technology created by Cambium, "she helps her fellow math teachers to understand the best strategies around teaching students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds or who suffer from trauma."

As a result, her students benefit from high usage of technology, high expectations, and guidance for what comes next, the news release reads.

“The 2021-2022 school year brought its own set of unique challenges, from constantly changing mask mandates to new COVID-19 variants,” CEO of Cambium Learning Group John Campbell said. "We want the teaching profession to be thought of as more than a calling or a passion – we also want it to be seen and respected by society as the high-value, high-stakes profession it truly is. Our goal with the Essential Educator Awards is to honor teachers who are committed to helping their students and who continue to step up during this challenging time.”

The winners also included an educator from Chicago and McAllen, Texas.