Other Positions
Associate Director of UNK Honors Program
Director of Loper Launch Enrichment Camp
Education and Teaching Experience
EDUCATION
Ed.D. in Mathematics Education - University of Nebraska at Lincoln
M.A. in Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education with Mathematics Minor - University of Nebraska at Lincoln
B.S. in Teacher Education - University of Nebraska at Kearney
TEACHING
Primary Courses Taught at UNK
MATH 230: Math for Elementary Teachers I
MATH 270: Methods in Middle and High School Mathematics Teaching I
MATH 271: Field Experience in Middle and High School Mathematics I
MATH 330: Math for Elementary Teachers II
MATH 430: Middle School Mathematics (see UNK News)
MATH 470: Methods in Middle and High School Mathematics Teaching II
MATH 471: Field Experience in Middle and High School Mathematics II
Graduate Courses Taught at UNK
Current Research in Mathematics Education (online)
Using Mathematics to Understand Our World (online)
Best Practices in Mathematics Teaching: UNK/KPS Mathematics Implementation Collaboration (see the Hub and NTV)
Other Teaching Experiences
2012 – 2013, Math Methods for Elementary Teachers, Field Experience; Washburn University, Topeka, KS
2008 – 2012, K-12 Mathematics Instructional Coach, Lincoln Public Schools, Lincoln, NE
2006 – 2008, Middle school and high school mathematics teacher, Grand Island Public Schools, Grand Island, NE
2002 – 2006, Middle school and high school mathematics teacher, Lincoln Public Schools, Lincoln, NE
Research and Publications
RESEARCH
Research Interests
Mathematics Education
- Professional Development of Mathematics Teachers (In-Service and Pre-service), Instructional Coaching
- Teaching Mathematics with Reasoning and Sense Making
Publications
Nebesniak, A., Casper, M. (in progress). Growth Mindsets and Achievement of Academically At-Risk Students and Preservice Teachers.
Nebesniak, A. & Vanness, C.* (in progress). Influence of curriculum-based camps during COVID-19.
Nebesniak, A., Gomez-Johnson, K. & Rupnow, T. J. (in rewrite/resubmit process). The impact of professional development partnerships on elementary math teacher beliefs and practices during curriculum change. Professional Development in Education.
Mocarski, R., Moore, T.*, Bice, M., & Nebesniak, A. (2022). Positive college perception: The impact of a curriculum-based summer camp’s transition. Journal for Leadership and Instruction, 12(1), 13-17.
Gomez-Johnson, K., Nebesniak, A. & Rupnow, T. J. (2019). District-university collaborations to support reform-based mathematics curriculum. Journal of Mathematics Education at Teachers College, 10(1), 17-20.
Vu, P., Knoell, C., Nebesniak, A. L., & Strawhecker, J. (2017). Gamified–blended learning professional development: A descriptive case study. In C. Martin & D. Polly (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Teacher Education and Professional Development (pp. 385-394) Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Nebesniak, A. L. & Burgoa, A. A. (2015). Developing the vertex formula MEAN-ingfully. Mathematics Teacher, 108 (6), 429-433.
Nebesniak, A. L. (2012). Effective instruction: A math coach’s perspective. Mathematics Teacher, 106 (5), 354-358.
Nebesniak, A. L. (2012). Learning to teach mathematics with reasoning and sense making.
Nebesniak, A. L. & Heaton, R. M. (2010). Student confidence and student involvement. Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 16 (2), 97-103.
Select Presentations
Gomez-Johnson, K., Nebesniak, A. & Rupnow, T. (2021). Powerful Partnerships: Leveraging District and University Pairings to Improve Teacher Effectiveness. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Annual Conference, St. Louis, IL.
Nebesniak, A. (2018). Growth Mindset in (Taking) Action. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Regional Conference, Hartford, CT.
Nebesniak A. L., Sorensen, K., & Pearson, K. (2018). Mind over matter: Growth mindset in the postsecondary classroom. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Annual Conference, Washington D.C.
Nebesniak, A. L. (2016). Flippin’ Fun Professional Development. National Council of Teacher of Mathematics Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA.
Nebesniak, A. L. (2015). Using Content Mapping to Provide Direction in Professional Development. National Council of Teacher of Mathematics Regional Conference, Nashville, TN.
Nebesniak, A. L. (2015). Using Pattern Blocks to Shape Fraction Knowledge. National Council of Teacher of Mathematics Regional Conference, Nashville, TN.
Nebesniak, A. L. (2015). How to Hook Pre-Service Teachers on Professional Development. Mathematical Association of America MathFest, Washington, D.C.
Nebesniak, A. L. & Burgoa, A. A. (2013). Math: A not-so-universal language. National
Council of Teachers of Mathematics Regional Conference, Louisville, KY.
Nebesniak, A. L. & Berks, D. (2013). Racecars, pennies, and men with hats: Teaching algebra for understanding. National Council of Teacher of Mathematics Annual Conference, Denver, CO.
Nebesniak, A. L. & Parn, L. (2009). Using cooperative learning to engage students in mathematics. Invited talk at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Mathematics colloquium series.
Nebesniak, A. L. & Heaton, R. M. (2009). Using Cooperative Learning to Promote a Problem-Solving Classroom. Paper presented at symposium, Investigating rurality within mathematics education research using four qualitative studies of teachers’ practices and perspectives at the annual meeting of the American Education Research Association, San Diego, CA.
Select Grants
Grants to support PAWS University; University of Nebraska–Kearney; 2019 – Present; Total Awarded $123,744
Improving Teacher Quality: State Grants Program, Engaging Math: Professional Development through the Flipped Classroom Model, Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, 2/2/15-8/15/16, $73,000, Project Director
Research Services Council: Collaborative Research Grant Proposal, Academic Coaching to Excellence (ACE), University of Nebraska-Kearney, 10/1/15-6/30/17, $34,283, Principal Investigator
Program of Excellence Grant, Pre-Service Mathematics Teacher Conference, University of Nebraska-Kearney Teacher Education Department, 1/1/15 – 5/10/15, $4500, Co-Investigator
Professional Affiliations
Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE)
TODOS: Mathematics for All
National Council of Teachers of Mathematic (NCTM)
National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM)
Nebraska Association of Teachers of Mathematics (NATM)
New breakthroughs
The power of imagination
Rich tradition. Bright future.
Taking care of business
