BURRILLVILLE – A math teacher who was named Burrillville High School’s Teacher of the Year for 2023 has also been named the Rhode Island Mathematics Teachers Association “Outstanding Teacher of the Year.”
Nicholas Horne, a 23 year educator for the district, was recently named to both honors.
Horne holds a master’s degree in mathematics and history, and is an adjunct professor at CCRI and Providence College, his alma mater, where he also has a partnership with the professors, and works in an advisory role for pre-service teachers.
At BHS, Horne teaches AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, Honors Calculus, Honors Geometry, Financial Math, and Probability and Statistics.
He was nominated for the school’s Teacher of the Year Award Department Chairperson and math teacher Kristi Craig, with support from the BHS administration.
“Nick empowered students with the ability to think critically, collaboratively, and independently,” Craig noted in the nomination letter. “He is also one of the hardest workers I know with the best attendance record in our building. One would be hard pressed to find a more devoted teacher.”
Craig noted that Horne, who is certified in both math and general science, teaches students to think for themselves.
“He encourages them to explore more efficient solution pathways and to connect new learning to previously learned concepts,” wrote Craig. “The result is a room full of students that are not afraid to be wrong, that reflect on their own learning so they learn just as much from mistakes as they do from their correct answers, and that retain information because they have a deeper understanding of the concepts.”
Craig said that Horne also a model and mentor for other teachers at the school, noting that he infuses technology in his classroom and helps others to do so, recently developing a 90 minute workshop, for math teachers in the district on the use of, “Desmos to teach function transformations.”
“Several of the teachers in my department indicated it was the best workshop they ever attended,” wrote Craig. “He is a valuable resource to the science department, helping teachers connect Calculus and Physics, and helping students connect the concepts from both classes.”
Horne also serves as the school’s math league coach and according to Craig, is a leader outside of school walls as well.
“He has worked with Phyllis Lynch, director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment at the Rhode Island Department of Education, to provide feedback on the Science of Reading initiative and the Commissioner’s Seal of Approval,” noted the department head. “Since 2020, he has been an AP Calculus reader for the AP Calculus AB exam. In this role, he collaborates with AP teachers across the country.”
The school recognition qualifies Horne to be named the Burrillville School District Teacher of the Year, a recognition set to be announced by the end of May.
Horne will be recognized for RIMTA’s Outstanding Teacher award at the organization’s spring conference at East Providence High School on Saturday, March 25.
