Quaker Hill Grant Goes to Mr. Bezaire
by Jeff Greenfield
This year's Quaker Hill recipient is seventh grade math teacher Joel Bezaire. The Quaker Hill grant allows one or two USN teachers to pursue studies or special projects in the summer.
This year's Quaker Hill recipient is seventh grade math teacher Joel Bezaire. The Quaker Hill grant allows one or two USN teachers to pursue studies or special projects in the summer.
Joel's project will be designing innovative math curricula intended to enrich math learning for the most capable learners in the courses which immediately precede seventh grade, the first year where an advanced section of each math course is offered. Research and our own experience as a school have taught us that only in very rare cases does it serve a talented math student best to skip a grade and accelerate vertically. Rather, in the middle school years, what's most important is to provide challenging and interesting applications that require more abstract reasoning and creative problem-solving yet stay on topic.
What's more, Joel's goal is to make these extensions hands-on and project-based, closely tied to each unit of study throughout the year. It's a very tall order indeed: one doesn't have to look far to find piles of workbooks filled with challenging math exercises, many even extensions of the routine problems assigned to all. However, it's challenge work of a different order--and, Joel believes, more interesting and meaningful--to create extensions that apply one's understanding of math to real-world situations in original and creative ways.
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
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USN graduates 98 plus 1 during Commencement
Seniors turned their tassels and graduated from University School of Nashville on Sunday, May 17, on the Back Lawn. Visit usn.org/classof2026 for more highlights from their last year on Edgehill and to learn what they will do next.Read More -
Spring sports season ends with podium finishes, trophies
The girls lacrosse team ended its season in overtime to become state runner-up. Tennis players Carter Kojetin '29 finished as a state quarterfinalist, Sophie Oliver '26 and Mary Kate Adler '28 finished as state semifinalists, and Veer Kodali '29 and Max Parker '29 finished as state champions. Meanwhile, eight runners competed at the state track and field meet in Knoxville, where Griffin Davidson '27, Caleb Freifeld '28, Drew Zwerner '28, and Jack Fruin '27, sprinted to first in the 4x800m relay and Jack also placed first in the 800m dash.Read More -
USN creates the Juliet Douglas Endowed Fund for Student Success
For the entire USN community: an invitation to give in gratitude, in celebration, and in honor of the woman who has given so much to our school. Make a gift at usn.org/giving to support students with needs beyond tuition and honor Interim Director Juliet Douglas.Read More
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Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.