Kaitlin Mahoney, a University of Iowa College of Education alumna, has been named the 2024 Mississippi Bend Regional Teacher of the Year. A dedicated math teacher at Bettendorf High School, Mahoney was recognized as one of nine educators in Iowa to receive the prestigious Regional Teacher of the Year honor in its inaugural year.

“This recognition is incredibly exciting,” Mahoney says, who received her Bachelor of Arts in Math Education in 2014 and her licensure in secondary education. “I have to give a lot of credit to my team and coworkers. We all really push each other to get better each year and try new things. To receive an award like this, shows us that someone notices that we are moving in the right direction and doing the right things. It’s nice to know when others—especially experts in our field—see that and appreciate what you are doing.”

The Iowa Department of Education created the Regional Teacher of the Year program to celebrate the expertise and dedication of teachers across the state. Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow praised the contributions of Mahoney and her fellow honorees.

Mahoney credits her success as a teacher to her experience at Iowa, stating that her classes and networking truly prepared her for her career. 

“I really got a lot out of my classes in the college of education, and also student teaching is of course an eye opener in the best way. The methods and classroom management classes were really helpful for me because they were very strategy based. I was also able to make close connections with the other secondary math education students, which was really helpful my first few years, because it gave me another new teacher to reach out to,” Mahoney says.

“We recognize the expertise, commitment, and care of each of Iowa’s inaugural 2025 Regional Teachers of the Year, and we thank them for choosing this honored profession, putting students at the center of all they do,” Snow says.

Mahoney, in her 11th year of teaching, is known for her innovative approach to making math accessible and engaging for all students. She has developed an algebra curriculum tailored to meet the diverse needs of her learners and has also inspired leadership and growth among students as a student council advisor.

“The staff and administration here are so supportive of me. I work on the absolute best team with Megan Schlotfeldt, Kellie Pryor, and Katie Masterson. We’ve been able to try new strategies, activities, and ideas that many teams or administration would shut down. Here, it feels like everyone’s focus is what is best for the students,” Mahoney says.

In addition to her teaching, Mahoney is deeply committed to connecting with her students and bringing energy and enthusiasm to the classroom. 

She offers advice to fellow educators: “Do what makes you feel excited and passionate about your lessons. The time that you have with your students will be so much more effective if they can see that you’re invested and excited too. Some of my best lessons have been something I thought of last minute that I put into action because I saw a cool connection. I have found that students often match your energy in your classroom, so give off the energy you want to receive. They’ll always respond, even if it takes time.”

As a Regional Teacher of the Year, Mahoney will also serve as a finalist for the 2025 Iowa Teacher of the Year, an honor established in 1958 to recognize exceptional educators who advance student learning, collaborate with colleagues, and engage families in education.

Her dedication to fostering student growth, both academically and personally, has made a lasting impact on Bettendorf High School and the broader education community.

“The best part about Bettendorf is absolutely the people,” Mahoney shares. “I love the students that I work with at Bettendorf. I teach all grades, and it is so fun to see the students grow and learn throughout their high school experience.”