Sharon Gourley, Skyridge High School

“Mrs. Gourley was my AP Calculus teacher seven years ago, and her impact on my life continues to this day. Before being in her class, I did not excel in mathematics. I lacked confidence, and previous teachers had expressed their own concerns about my math skills. Mrs. Gourley not only taught in with clear and easy to follow methods, but also expressed her confidence in me and my abilities. My attitude towards math turned around completely. With that bit of confidence and masterful instruction from her, I began to excel in math. I aced the AP calculus exam and became a school math tutor. I was chosen as the math Sterling Scholar to represent my high school in my senior year. Without her influence, I would never have chosen to pursue my bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, which is a very math-heavy major. I recently graduated Cum Laude from BYU in this field and will soon be pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering, and without Mrs. Gourley, I would never have made these education and career decisions. I can sincerely say that without Mrs. Gourley, my life would be very different and I would have missed out on a lot of tremendous opportunities. In a world where phenomenal teachers are so desperately needed, all who have the privilege of being in Mrs. Gourley’s class are in the hands of the best of the best.”

-Trey Blackwell