Middle College at Austin Peay State University Employee Spotlight

April 11, 2025

Name and Current Position*

Sabrina Burleson, Mathematics Teacher

What attracted you to your role at Middle College, and how did you get started in this field?*

What attracted me to my role at Middle College was the unique opportunity to work with highly motivated students in a setting that combines high school and college-level learning. I was drawn to the school’s mission of empowering students to get a head start on their college education. The chance to support students academically and personally during such a pivotal time in their lives was incredibly appealing to me. What attracted me to math education was the beauty and logic of math itself, combined with the challenge of helping students see that same clarity and confidence in it. I’ve always appreciated how math builds problem-solving skills and encourages critical thinking, but I also saw early on that many students struggle with it; not necessarily because they lack ability, but because they lack belief in themselves.

What is your favorite part about your job and why?*

My favorite part of being a math teacher is witnessing those “lightbulb moments”. When a student suddenly understands a concept that once seemed impossible. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch students build confidence, especially when they start to see themselves as capable problem-solvers.

Share a professional accomplishment that makes you proud. *

One professional accomplishment that makes me proud as a math teacher was helping significantly raise the growth rate in my class over the course of a school year. At the beginning, many students were struggling with foundational concepts and lacked confidence in their math skills. By the end, most students have the self-confidence and knowledge to take on any future math course.

What is your favorite Middle College memory?*

One of my favorite, yearly, Middle College memories is seeing our seniors who I have worked with since their first semester walk across the stage at graduation, not just with their high school diplomas, but also with college credits already under their belts. It was such a powerful reminder of how much growth can happen in just a few years.

List the universities you have attended and degrees earned, and/or share fun facts about yourself.*

University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematics, Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Physics, Master’s of Arts in Teaching Specialization in Mathematics 9-12