“I do not need you to be smart in math, I just need you to give the best effort you can every day”.
High School math teacher, Rebecca Pohlmann, has been selected by the State Board of Education as a 2027 nominee for Teacher of the Year. The Teacher of the Year is typically announced by early September.
Pohlmann was nominated by co-teachers Emily Mehlman and Makayla Woody. Mehlman's nomination stated:
Rebecca Pohlmann has been a high school math teacher for the past 12 years, dedicating her entire teaching career to West Carrollton. During her time at the district, she has taught a wide range of courses, from honors-level classes to inclusion courses for freshmen through seniors. Beyond the classroom, she has coached volleyball and served on the district’s math leadership team. I have had the pleasure of working alongside Rebecca for the past two years, and I can confidently say that she is an exceptional colleague and educator.
Rebecca dedicates her time, effort, and passion both inside and outside the classroom to ensure her students succeed in math and in life. Her instruction emphasizes the importance of productive struggle, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and real-world application. She maintains consistent, open communication with students and families, sharing both successes and areas for improvement with honesty, professionalism, and empathy. Rebecca not only asks students about their “math life” but also genuinely cares about how they are doing in their personal lives, taking the time to listen and respond thoughtfully.
Rebecca has reshaped my understanding of true co-teaching. As an intervention specialist working in an inclusion setting, I have rarely encountered a general education teacher who allows me to fully co-teach the way Rebecca does. She shares the responsibilities of teaching, assessing, planning, and celebrating student successes. She welcomes my input on content, differentiation, and accommodations, trusting my recommendations to best support our students. Rebecca actively seeks constructive feedback and applies it to ensure all students in her classroom are reached.
Rebecca deserves this award for her unwavering commitment to improving herself, her teaching, and her understanding of her students. She consistently seeks new strategies, builds strong relationships with students and families by participating in community events, and generously gives her time, often outside of school hours, to support students academically and personally. Working with Rebecca has taught me invaluable lessons about teaching math and preparing students for success both in and out of the classroom. I am truly honored to collaborate with her each day.
Woody's nomination stated:
Rebecca Pohlmann is a phenomenal teacher, coach, and colleague. She is always willing to go above and beyond for students, staff, and the community in any way she can. Pohlmann has been in West Carrollton City Schools for 12 years as a math teacher. During this time, she has taught math, coached volleyball, and served on the Math Leadership Team for the district. You can often find Mrs. Pohlmann in the building before school, after school, and at extra-curricular events supporting her students. Students often come see her even when they do not have her as a teacher anymore to ask for math help or life questions. Mrs. Pohlmann is always willing to have life talks with her students. She truly believes in preparing all her students for what they will face in the real-world during/after high school.
Mrs. Pohlmann’s classroom is a place all students can feel safe and valued. She believes in engaging students in the mathematical process in every way possible. Vertical board problems are her go-to method to have students work standing at a whiteboard, collaborating with one another, and problem-solving real-world scenarios. She builds life skills within the math classroom everyday by having students work in various ways. Her classroom is not the traditional teacher-centered lecture style. Pohlmann works hard to make as much of the class time as student-centered as possible.
Becca is always willing to try new strategies and methods for teaching. We have worked to implement a new curriculum which is very different from what we have used in the past. She works to find a way to help every student access the content in a way which works best for them, even when that means she tries something new as a teacher. We have tried so many new strategies this year. Sometimes they work and other times we need to go back to the drawing board. She promotes lifelong learning to her students and co-workers by being willing to try new things on a regular basis. Pohlmann always looks for ways to collaborate with teachers in or out of the math department to expand her teaching strategies and abilities. She puts in countless hours at home making videos for her students to watch as well. She openly communicates with all parents and students on a weekly basis through emails, Google Classroom, and Progress Book.
Becca Pohlmann is an all-around wonderful person. Working with her makes me a better teacher every day. I love collaborating with her to teach Algebra I. From the 5am texts thinking through how to best help students, to the walks during our plan period because we can’t sit still, she is a pleasure to work alongside. Becca has a true passion for teaching and helping prepare the next generation to be the best version of themselves. One of my favorite quotes she says, “I do not need you to be smart in math, I just need you to give the best effort you can every day”.