Proud DLSU Integrated School Teacher Makes Math Learning Fun, Meaningful

By Henrylito D. Tacio

A homegrown educator combines her love of Mathematics and teaching to create fun and meaningful lessons encouraging students to overcome their fear of numbers.

Abigail Te Eng Fo Magsombol, whose family hails from Surigao del Sur, says that mathematics helps us make sense of the world around us and is essential to meeting the challenges of daily life.

“Many of our tasks as adults and professionals need math skills, from simple computations to complex equations in specific professional environments. As a teacher, I am passionate about helping students master the foundational skills that will help them prepare for the challenges of adulting,” she says.

As team leader of the Freshman Academy for the Mathematics department at Alamogordo High School in New Mexico, where she taught until this year, Magsombol worked with other faculty to mentor and guide students through their transition to high school.

“I addressed behavioral issues by setting clear expectations and building supportive relationships. I am fully committed to assisting students through after-school tutoring, summer school, and extended-year programs,” she explains, emphasizing that fostering a positive and safe space for students is as important as ensuring academic rigor.

“As a mathematics educator, I focus on developing culturally sensitive assessment techniques to address the unique educational needs of New Mexico students. I seek to move beyond traditional teaching methods to make math relatable and applicable to students’ lives. My goal is to cultivate a classroom culture where students feel confident expressing themselves, taking risks, and celebrating their achievements,” she says.

And it seems her efforts have paid off. In 2021, she received an award from the College Board that recognized her leadership in the school’s goal to prepare students for advanced mathematics and help them meet high expectations within the curriculum.

More importantly, feedback from students has been positive as well. “They often take the time to thank me whenever they see me on campus. They also say that they tell their parents how much they’ve learned throughout the year,” she says. Many of these also attend her after-school sessions for additional consultation, showing their commitment to their learning.

These gains continue to inspire her as she seeks to deepen her knowledge and improve her skills. Aside from facilitating curriculum-aligned activities through Pathway2Careers, she also participated in the New Teacher Project. Both programs aim to support student engagement in math by integrating technology and computer science into education.

As an advanced mathematics teacher, Magsombol likewise participated in the two-year “Focus on Algebra” learning series. “I was one of only two representatives from our school in the first cohort, which included over 95 educators from across New Mexico,” she says.

“In this program, I took the lead in assessing curriculum and instructional design, focusing on scope and sequence,” Magsombol adds. “The initiative aimed to enhance algebra readiness for grades 6 to 9. We engaged in offline and virtual sessions to deepen our understanding of algebra and better prepare our students for Algebra 1.”

This year, she received the STI Spring 2024 Scholarship, given by Eastern New Mexico University to teachers who pass a rigorous application process. This scholarship allows educators to explore how integrated technology can enrich literacy programs offered by schools in the state.

Magsombol notes that she wants to counter the impression that Math teachers are not interested in literacy. “To be successful in math, students need to be articulate readers and writers. They need to build the necessary vocabulary to be able to understand math problems and explain their thinking process.”

To this end, she participated in the Writing Revolution: Literacy Project, which aims to enable all students, especially those from historically marginalized communities, to become proficient writers, readers, and critical thinkers.  She was one of just 15 participants selected from various public schools in the area. She created structured writing exercises to help students better understand mathematical principles. “Writing about mathematics helps clarify their thinking, identify misconceptions, and articulate their reasoning coherently,” she says.

She clearly speaks from experience as she is also a textbook author. She wrote Global Mathematics 9, published by The Library Publishing House, Inc. in 2014. A revised edition was issued in 2022.  The book aims to enhance mathematics education for educators and students. “Inspired by the need for comprehensive, accessible resources, I sought to create a textbook that aligns with current educational standards and engages students with real-world applications of mathematical concepts.”

It has been a busy year for her as she was also selected as a Competitive Event Judge for the New Mexico Technology Student Association (TSA) Leadership Conference. The TSA is a national organization that supports over 200,000 students across the United States. As a judge, she evaluated middle and high school students’ stories in a competitive STEM setting.

To help her students prepare for their chosen careers, Magsombol uses insights gained from her experiences working in the Philippines and the United States. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of the Philippines. She spent several years in HR training in a national government agency before pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher.

“I have always wanted to be a teacher but I think it was better that I took it as a second career. My previous experience as a training specialist in a large organization helped me understand what kind of preparation my students need to succeed professionally.”

After teaching Math at the elementary and secondary levels at De La Salle University Integrated School, she received an offer to work at Alamogordo High School through the Teacher Exchange Program. “I was happy to teach in De La Salle, but the opportunity aligned with my goals to stay responsive and competitive in a dynamic academic environment, so I decided to take it,” she adds.

Currently, she is taking the Harvard Bok Higher Education Teaching Certificate Program. “Through coursework and collaborative projects, I am developing a comprehensive toolkit that will allow me to create impactful learning experiences and contribute to the academic success of my students.”

She acknowledges the importance of continuous professional development to her improvement as an educator. “It’s a fascinating field right now. Plenty of research is being done not only in education as a whole but also in specialized fields such as math teaching. It’s important to know which of our current approaches make sense in view of so many changes happening to our society.”

She has completed the Advancement Program Level Micro-Credential Courses – designed to advance licensure and professional goals – offered by the New Mexico Public Education Department. She’s the only teacher from her school to have completed the advancement from Level 2 to Level 3 as of June 30, 2024, demonstrating her commitment to excellence and professional growth.

Her future plans include establishing a school dedicated to providing quality education to deserving students, especially those from less fortunate backgrounds.

“Regardless of their circumstances, every child deserves access to a supportive learning environment where they can thrive,” Magsombol says. The school she has in mind fosters a love for learning, encourages critical thinking, and emphasizes academic and personal growth. “My goal is to transfer my passion for math to students so they can expand their career choices in science and technology. Instead of fearing it, I want them to embrace math challenges and use what they have learned to improve their lives.”

Photos courtesy of Abigail Te Eng Fo Magsombol