County students excel in math competition

First place 7th Grade math team members

by Brandi Miller for the FCT

Visit any high school campus in April and you will find teachers working diligently to try and get that last bit of information in before the summer break.  This can be challenging because spring fever is fierce and students are counting the days until summer vacation.

The annual Franklin County Math Competition was held April 17 and this is a great opportunity for all the math teachers in the county to see the results of all their hard work displayed through their students.

All the schools in the county competed.  Vina won one trophy, East Franklin won 2, Belgreen won 4, Phil Campbell won 6, and Red Bay ended up with 10 trophies.

The trophies are award to both team and individual awards and any trophy won is a huge accomplishment.  The math competition is tough and any student or team that wins a trophy demonstrates mastery in that area of math.

“I am so proud of all our students,” said Red Bay High School Math teacher Shay Pounds.  “They worked hard and I am proud of what they accomplished.”

Pounds teaches seventh grade math and Algebra I at RBHS.  Along with Pounds, Greg Cash and Lori Hardin round out the math teachers at RBHS.  Cash teaches Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus and Hardin teaches seventh grade and Algebra I.

Cynda Granger, a RBHS Freshman who won first place in the Algebra I competition, said the math competition is always a great way to show off how much work you have put into the school year in math.

“I think the competition is great because it allows students a chance to let everyone see what all they have learned that school year,” said Granger.  “It is a great experience and I enjoy it.  I really like Math and this is something I look forward to each year.”

RBHS won first place honors in seventh grade Algebra I and Algebra II team competitions.

“All of these kids work so hard,” said Hardin.  “I am so proud of them and all of the work and effort they put into this competition and throughout the year. “

Jamal Anderson won first place in the Algebra II individual competition and Daniel Lindsey won third place in the Algebra II individual competition.  Anderson and Lindsey are both juniors at RBHS.

Morgan Pierce, a sophomore, placed second in the individual Geometry competition.

Cynda Granger placed first in the Algebra I individual competition and Krista Lindsey placed third in the individual Algebra I competition.  Both Granger and Lindsey are freshman.

Matthew Williams, an eighth grader placed third in the Pre-Algebra individual competition and Kanen Robbins placed first in the seventh grade individual competition.

“These kids work so hard and I am beyond proud of all of them,” said Cash.  “I am proud of the way they represented RBHS and all their hard work.”