Do the math: Douglas High's Christine Ensign named teacher of the year

Douglas High School math teacher Christine Ensign could not hold back tears when she was named Douglas County's Teacher of the Year at David Walley's Resort on Wednesday.

"I've always believed in being an expert in your subject area," said Ensign. "But I realize we all have things to learn."

Douglas High Principal Marty Swisher described Ensign as someone grounded in knowledge but always seeking fresh perspective.

"Christine takes students beyond expectations," Swisher said. "All her students get this incredible experience of how to think and learn. She teaches her students to solve problems logically but also looks outside the box, not only in math, but in real-life situations."

Ensign has a master's degree in applied mathematics with an emphasis in statistics and probability. She teaches two advanced placement statistics courses, two regular ones, and an honor's trigonometry course.

"The classic scenarios of students asking when they'll use what they learn in real life doesn't happen in my class," she said. "Statistics exists as a subject because it describes the real world. The questions aren't the made up kind, like 'Johnny was on a train.' They are real problems. Students get hired at the end of the year by the Partnership of Community Resources to work on surveys."

Ensign said knowing the subject is a big part of teaching, though her content-based paradigm has shifted slightly in the last couple of years.

"Hopefully, students remember content to some extent, but it's more about what context that content is presented in, your relationship with the students and the way you inspire them."

Originally from Las Vegas, Ensign has taught at Douglas High for 8 years. She also coached cross country before deciding to become a mother. She is currently on maternity leave. Her husband, Lars, and 1-month-old son, Kai, attended Wednesday's event.

"It's my dream job," she said. "The community and staff members at Douglas High School are wonderful. This is a fantastic place to live and teach."

Teacher of the Year runners up included Michael Rechs from Carson Valley Middle School, Christina Brown from Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School, Wendy Smith from Kingsbury Middle School, Phil Sorenson from Whittell High School, Bill Harvey from Minden Elementary School, Cindy DeBlose from Scarselli Elementary School, Kaye Vibe from Zephyr Cove Elementary School, Janine Mello from Meneley Elementary School, Unkyung Park Johnson from Pinon Hills Elementary School, Laura Williams of Jacks Valley Elementary School and Dee Gosselin from Gardnerville Elementary School.