Nipmuc Regional High School math teacher Mr. Ronald Cochran will be recognized as a Partners in Excellence Award Winner for his work as a teacher of Advanced Placement Calculus and Computer Science on April 5.
This is the second time Cochran has received this prestigious award for his outstanding work as AP math teacher at Nipmuc Regional. He is one of 54 teachers in Massachusetts to be honored by Mass Insight Education(MIE) for outstanding work during the 2014-15 school year.
“I am very proud of Mr. Cochran for receiving this prestigious award for a second time,” said Nipmuc Principal John Clements. “It is a testament to the hard work he’s put into designing courses that give students a competitive advantage in their preparation for college,” he said.
Cochran said he enjoys getting to see students understand new concepts every day.
“Students in his classes know that they will be challenged, engaged, and prepared for success. I’m thrilled to see him acknowledged with this honor,” said Clements.
For the past five years, Nipmuc has worked with MIE through a grant to provide professional development, Saturday study sessions for students, mock exams, and resources to grow programs.
The distrct has taken great strides to increase access and achievement in AP courses. Some of these highlights include:
- Tripling the number of Advanced Placement offerings over the past five years, next year offering 21 AP courses to students.
- Increasing the number of AP students over five years to 178 (increase of 71%).
- increasing the number of AP tests taken over five years to 363 (increase of 102%).
- increasing the number of AP Scholars over three years to 56 (increase of 130%).
- Increasing the student achievement with 77% of students earning qualifying scores.
- Increasing student enrollment in AP courses to more than 50% of upperclassmen.
Cochran played an important role in the school’s success with its growing Advanced Placement program as the teacher of AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, and AP Computer Science.
Past recipients of this award includ Nipmuc teachers Mrs. Amy Gilchrist and Ms. Samantha Wilson.
Cochran joined Nipmuc in 1998 and is a graduate of the University of Connecticut.
UPTON DAILY 