Meet Aimee, our latest addition to our growing troop of Science Cheerleaders.
Aimee was a cheerleader for the Buffalo Bills, has a Master’s in Mathematics Education and teaches high school mathematics.
SciCheer: Tell me a little about your favorite math courses.
Aimee: I am absolutely a Geometry buff! I love it! My other favorites would have to be History of Mathematics and Linear Algebra
SciCheer: Do you find that your looks (or being a former cheerleader) helped or hindered your professional experiences as a math teacher? (Were you taken seriously?)
Aimee: At first I think people judged me or didn’t take me seriously because I was a cheerleader. I think there’s a misconception that ALL cheerleaders are uneducated. I had to PROVE to them that I was not who they thought I was. I am actually quite the nerd! I mean, come on, I own five different types of graphing calculators and make raps up about math!
SciCheer: Do you have any advice for middle or high school girls who might feel torn between following one dream (cheerleading or dancing) and another (science/engineering/math) ?
Aimee: I tell my students (pictured here with me) on a daily basis that they can do whatever they want. All my students know of my cheering experience in the NFL and that I cheered while pursuing a career in mathematics. My motto is, “Nerds rule the world so let your geek flag fly high!!!”
SciCheer: Most memorable cheerleading experience?
Aimee: My most memorable experience was cheering at the 2007 NFL Pro Bowl. It was absolutely the best feeling in the world to be chosen by my teammates to represent Buffalo. I met so many amazing women throughout the country. They’re all so talented!!!
SciCheer: Most memorable math or teaching experience?
Aimee: I received a letter my first year of teaching from a mother who had thanked me for giving her daughter enough courage to tackle mathematics. Her daughter was a freshman taking Algebra and a Varsity cheerleader. She had not always had the confidence in mathematics because she didn’t have anyone telling her she could do it. With a little work after school a few times a week, she maintained a grade in the 90s and developed enough confidence in her mathematics skills to do very well. Just my love for math and my belief that anyone can do it helped her achieve (according to her mom). It’s really one of the most amazing feelings in the world.
SciCheer: We love hearing things like that. Makes it all worth it! 

Anything you’d like to add that you want people to know?
Aimee: Not only am I in love with math but I also have a secret crush on science! Shhh!