Nardi Routten is an accomplished fourth grade teacher at Creekside Elementary School in New Bern North Carolina. She holds three degrees from Florida Atlantic University, A bachelors in Education, and two Master’s degree, one in Reading Education and one in Educational Leadership. She serves as the fourth-grade team leader, she is a member of her school improvement team and is a goal team leader. She is also a member of her District’s Teacher Advisory Council, Regional Teacher Advisory Council, and State Advisory Council. Nardi is the 2024 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Southeast Region Teacher of the Year. She mentors teachers in topics such as reading, reciprocal teaching, Thinking Maps, Math Talks, unpacking state standards and building a classroom community. She represents fourth grade teachers as a member of the National Assessment Governing Board. She helps set policy for National Assessment of Educational Progress and helps identify subjects to be tested, approves all test questions, and determines the content and achievement levels for each assessment.
Mrs. Routten has earned local and national recognition for her excellence throughout her career. In 2014 she was received the Milken Educator Award during a surprise assembly. More recently she was selected as a North Carolina state finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. She also implemented a teaching session called Math Detectives at Creekside Elementary, aiming to inspire a love and excitement for math; students use a combination of “Amazing Race” and “Escape Rooms” to solve complex math problems. Most recently, Nardi had a thrill of a lifetime and flew in the back seat of an F18 as the primary Key Influencer for the Blue Angels.
Mrs. Routten continues to be an advocate for teachers and students, working tirelessly to improve education for students.