Hello! My name is David Dai, and I am ecstatic to be a part of the team here at Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies! I am an alumnus of Alma Bryant High School (here in Mobile County), and I received my Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics with a concentration in statistics (2016), my Master's Degree in Secondary Math Education (2017), and my Math Educational Specialist (2024) degree from the University of Alabama. The 2024-2025 academic year will be my eighth year as a teacher. I spent the first four years of my career at the high school level with one year at Hillcrest HS (Tuscaloosa) and then three years at Alma Bryant HS (Irvington). I have experience teaching students Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebraic Connections, Algebra 2 with Trigonometry, and Discrete Math. I have served as the head coach of the Cross Country Team and co-sponsor of the Mu Alpha Theta Math National Honor Society at Hillcrest HS, and I have served as a co-sponsor of the Student Government Association, Spirit Congress, Scholars' Bowl Team, and Hi-Q Team at Alma Bryant HS. I also began an Ultimate Frisbee and Disc Golf club at both high schools. I am an active member in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the Alabama Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ACTM). I have attended professional conferences for both organizations as a member and a presenter where I have led professional learning opportunities for colleagues at the state and national level. To date, I have been awarded the following honors: Young Alumni Award from the College of Education at the University of Alabama (2019); The ACTM High School Math Teacher of the Year (2019); Alma Bryant High School Teacher of the Year (2019); Removing Barriers in STEM Teacher Education Grant Recipient (2020); Mobile County Public School System High School Teacher of the Year (2020); Alabama District 1 Secondary Teacher of the Year (2020); Alabama Secondary Teacher of the Year (2020-2021); Alabama Alternate Teacher of the Year (2020-2021); Air Force Association STEM Teacher of the Year (2021); Extra Yard for Teachers Award Recipient (2021); WKRG Golden Apple Recipient (2021); State-Finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (2023); Lagniappe's Nappie Award Winner as "Coolest Public High School Teacher-Mobile County" (2023); University of Alabama Top Alumni Under 40 Award Recipient (College of Education, 2023). I am a National Board Certified Teacher (Early Adolescence-Mathematics), a Board Member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (2022-2025) and a University of Alabama Master Teacher Fellow in the A-PLUS program. I am looking forward to a great year! Go Explorers!