Scott Phillips is a seventh grade math teacher at Aurora Middle School in Aurora, Nebraska. Phillips has been a teacher for 13 years and earned a bachelor’s degree in middle level education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Doane University. While at Aurora, Phillips has taught seventh grade math, pre-algebra and a math mindsets course as an intervention program. In addition to teaching throughout the school year, he is also an adjunct instructor for Doane University, where he works to educate the current and future generations of educators across the state of Nebraska.

Phillips says his main goals are instilling confidence in his students, instructing them on how to work collaboratively with others and opening their eyes to the everyday, real-world connections of math in their lives. He is an active member of the Aurora community and a member of the National Education Association, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Nebraska State Education Association.

Phillips also coaches basketball and mentors current and past students and athletes. He works hard to promote positive habits, a healthy balance in life and embracing the growth achieved from failure. Phillips has seen his own failure in life lead to growth and aims to inspire educators across the country with his upbeat personality and innovative teaching strategies.