Data Chats

Ms. Mollie Wagner teaches Algebra 1. She attended Colorado State University, and this is her second year to teach.

Tell us about your family.

"My dad, step mom and little brother live in Arkansas. My mother and step-dad live in my home town of Colorado. I have four sisters and one brother. I have a beautiful niece and another niece or nephew on the way. Dalton and I have been together for 5 years. We have started our lives in good ol' Alba Texas. Dalton grew up in Alba and graduated from UT Tyler in 2021."

What aspects of the teaching profession do you find most rewarding and fulfilling?

"Teaching is deeply rewarding, especially in a subject like Algebra 1, where you witness tangible growth in students' understanding. One of the most fulfilling aspects is seeing students grasp challenging concepts, like solving equations or graphing functions, and knowing you've played a role in that progress. Building relationships with students and fostering a sense of community in the classroom is another rewarding element, as you help students develop confidence in their problem-solving abilities. It's incredibly satisfying to create "lightbulb moments" when students finally understand a difficult concept and to see them grow in their curiosity and critical thinking skills. Ultimately, the ability to empower students by giving them tools for future success makes the teaching profession, especially in Algebra 1, deeply fulfilling."

Could you provide some examples of how you/your team utilizes data to inform and enhance instructional practices?

"I work super closely with my PLC team to analyze all bits of data. My students and I have our own data wall where we talk about the STAAR standards and create individual class goals for the next assessment."