Celebrating an Inspiring Educator’s International Achievement

Valley View Public School in Pickering is beaming with pride as one of its own, Robert Cartwright, has earned international recognition for his innovative teaching methods. Mr. Cartwright, a dedicated Grade 7/8 math teacher, was announced as the winner of an international competition hosted by Desmos Classroom in the Pro K-12 category. His engaging and interactive math activity, "Bike Paths," stood out among entries from around the world, earning top marks for Engagement, Instruction, Creativity, and Design/Ease of Use.

The competition, which culminated on December 2, 2024, encouraged students and educators globally to explore and vote on top submissions. Mr. Cartwright’s "Bike Paths" lesson captivated the judges and students alike, making it a clear winner. This interactive activity helps students visualize and understand fraction operations and proportional relationships, receiving high praise from students in Mr. Cartwright’s intermediate math classes.

“He’s an amazing math teacher,” shared one Grade 7 student. Another added, “He explains everything really well and gives us challenges.” Students particularly appreciated the unique learning experience Desmos provides. “You can’t really cheat on Desmos. It lets us make mistakes and then fix them. Desmos is better than paper,” one student noted.

Mr. Cartwright’s impact extends beyond the classroom. Sandi Hall, Vice Principal at Valley View Public School, describes him as an exemplary teacher who fosters an environment where students feel both challenged and supported. “Mr. Cartwright creates a learning space where students are engaged and believe in their ability to succeed,” she said. His commitment to innovation doesn’t stop at math lessons—he also leads the school’s Intermediate Tech Club, immersing students in coding and robotics.

Reflecting on his award-winning lesson, Mr. Cartwright said, “I created this activity to make my math lesson on fractions more engaging and interactive. Students get meaningful visual feedback based on their input, which helps them create connections between fraction operations and proportional relationships. Using the dashboard tool in Desmos also allowed me to showcase student work and foster rich discussions.”

Mr. Cartwright’s dedication and creativity exemplify the best of teaching, inspiring both students and colleagues. As one student summed up, “He’s the best math teacher.”

Congratulations to Mr. Cartwright on this outstanding achievement! Valley View Public School, and the entire DDSB community, are lucky to have such a passionate and innovative educator on their team.