South math teacher Allison MacDonald is proud to be a math nerd.

MacDonald is known for making math interesting and enjoyable. She brings energy to her classrooms and passion that her students clearly notice.

MacDonald comes from a family full of mathematicians. Her dad has a PhD in Applied Mathematics and taught college classes at Indiana University and Washington University in St. Louis. Her brother is also a high school math teacher at Parkway West and both she and her brother have Master’s Degrees in math education. 

MacDonald has been teaching math at South for 20 years. When she’s not teaching she likes to spend time with her husband and two girls, Peyton and Riley. She said she likes to bring her children to South events because they will eventually attend South themselves. MacDonald sponsors the school’s Scholar Bowl team and said she loves going to trivia nights. Like many children of the 90’s, she also likes watching old episodes of “Friends.”

“When it comes to math in our family, my dad is the best,” MacDonald said. “He made math feel like puzzles when I was little. Even at the dinner table, he would ask questions to get us thinking. I try to do the same in my classroom.”

She said having a math teacher as a parent inspired her to enjoy the subject. 

“He taught me from a very young age not to be scared of math. Even in college, he helped me with projects when I needed it. That support made math fun and approachable,” she said.

Adding on, students like senior Shelby Wright also noticed her hard work and said she works hard to help them. 

“Mrs. MacDonald is very good at helping students one by one. One time, I didn’t understand something in class, so I came back during a club meeting, and she showed me step by step. She also does examples during the lesson, which makes it easier to understand. Her homework is not too hard, and she’s a great teacher and coach,” Wright said. 

Senior Colin Triller has had MacDonald as his math teacher for the past two years.

“I would describe Mrs. MacDonald as a kind and passionate teacher who really cares about her students. She always helps me understand things in detail. She gives us simple notes and sometimes games that make learning easier,” Triller said. “My favorite thing we do is review sheets. I can finish my work and still have time for other things. I also think it’s pretty cool that she comes from a family of math teachers.”

This year MacDonald teaches Algebra 2, Algebra 3, and Consumer Math. 

She said her favorite part of teaching is helping students understand the “why” behind the math, not just memorizing formulas. 

“I want my students to see math as something they can enjoy, solve, and understand like a puzzle,” she said.

MacDonald is no stranger to Parkway South. She actually graduated from South in 2002 and was the president of the math club (Mu Alpha Theta) and Prom Queen at the same time. 

She said her freshman Honors Geometry teacher, Mr. Wade, inspired her early on. Wade died in 2011.

“My favorite teacher was by far Mr. Wade,” MacDonald said. “I told him I wanted to be just like him when I grew up, and he said, ‘Get a degree, and I’ll hire you.’ That’s exactly what I did.”

Degitz, her later teacher in Calculus, also remembered her as a talented and curious student.

“She was very good at math and loved helping others understand it. She’s always brought energy and fun to the classroom,” Degitz said.