Krehl, in her fourth year at MSCC, will be recognized for her accomplishment at the 2014 Innovations Conference in Anaheim, Cal., in March.
“I was surprised by the award because I just feel like I’m doing what I always do,” she said. “I always joke about how I’m never quite satisfied with things and keep trying to change them for the better.
“Part of me doesn’t feel like I’m doing anything particularly special or different, but I’m quite honored by the fact that MSCC feels it is unique and exceptional enough to be worthy of recognition.”
Dr. Cliff Jones, MSCC Senior Vice President for Learning and Instruction, said Krehl has done outstanding work on an Applied Technical Mathematics class designed to help students succeed in their chosen professions.
Krehl said the course is designed to “make math meaningful to students in a way that makes sense in the context of what they need to know. Many of our students, especially in technical areas, learn by doing things, so I have tried to incorporate as much of that as I can in the technical math class. My goal is to conquer anxiety and show students they can ‘do math.’”
Applied Technical Mathematics allows participants to move more quickly and efficiently toward their higher learning goals. Krehl said the course is comprehensive and challenging.
“It’s a lot to cover in a semester, and we move fast,” she explained. “The students have to work hard. I’m excited about the class because I feel it’s a culmination of a lot effort. I am passionate about making math accessible to students, about explaining and practicing in ways that make sense to them.”
Krehl, who serves a dual role at the College as a Contextualized Mathematics Specialist for the Title III PBI Grant and Lead Faculty for Developmental/Technical Math, said she didn’t like math as a youngster but became interested in it in high school.
“In the eighth grade, our math teach was on maternity leave for quite a while, and we had an elementary school teacher as our long-term sub,” she explained. “I was terrified that I was going to get into high school and not know what I was doing at all.
“I took my book home the night before we were going to cover a new section, and fortunately I had parents who could help explain things. I would ask them to help me figure out the next day’s lesson. Then I would go back to school and explain it to everybody around me.”
The next year, her ability became readily apparent to her new teacher.
“In high school, my algebra teacher saw that I was good at explaining math to other students, and he immediately started hooking me up with students who were struggling,” Krehl said. “At that point, I realized I wanted to teach math.
“It’s not actually the math I love; it’s helping students understand it. I get excited about taking something that is a difficult concept or a struggling point for a student and helping it become clear.”
Although the first in her family to pursue teaching as a profession, Krehl said she comes by it naturally.
“My mom (a nurse) teaches piano lessons, and my dad (doctor) taught at the community college for the nursing program,” she explained. “So even though it’s not their profession, they are both very much teachers by nature. There has always been some sort of teaching aspect with my family. My younger sister also teaches math now, so it runs in the family.”
Originally from southeast Kansas, Krehl earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics & Education at William Jewel College in Missouri. She completed a master’s degree in teaching at Indiana University before teaching high school for 10 years at a variety of public, private, and military institutions. Krehl also spent a year in Liverpool, England, as a children and youth worker at St. Bartholomew’s Church.
While teaching in U.S. high schools, she also served as an adjunct instructor at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, Johnson County Community College, and Labette Community College.
In addition to the most recent honor, Krehl received the W.L. Barbour Family Award for Innovative Instruction at MSCC two years ago.
The Roueche Excellence Award, established in 2012, celebrates outstanding contributions and leadership by community college faculty and staff. Suanne D. and John E. Roueche, early proponents of the idea that teachers have major responsibility for how well students perform in the classroom, have been partners and friends of the League for Innovation for more than 35 years.
The League is an international organization dedicated to catalyzing the community college movement. It hosts conferences and institutes, develops Web resources, conducts research, produces publications, provides services, and leads projects and initiatives with member colleges, corporate partners, and other agencies in continuing efforts to make a positive difference for students and communities.
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