Rill Pruski: A Mission to Make Math Matter

At one time or another, most people have felt that the math they learned in school couldn't possibly help them out in the "real world." Shana Rillan (Rill) Pruski wants to dispel this myth and she's starting with her 8th grade students at East Central Heritage Middle School in East Central ISD. Ms. Pruski works every day to teach her students math concepts and how these concepts relate to "real life."

"So this is a really important thing for us to figure out. How much are we going to pay for a car?" she asks her class. By using relevant examples, Ms. Pruski peaks the interest of her students. She takes it beyond simple equations and makes math exciting. It's helped 8th grade student Jaelynn Clark have a different attitude about math.

"Now I realize I'll use it a lot when I get older for cars and house and stuff like that," Jaelynn said.

Ms. Pruski knows how to keep her students interested – make math relatable. It may sound simple, but it works.