Math Team

Director of Math Programs

John Allison

is new to AR AIMS in 2024 after 18 years in the classroom at Vilonia High School. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Lyon College in 2006, at 38 years old, following a wandering path to a teaching career that led through four years in the United States Marine Corps, a five-year stint driving a truck, and seven years raising poultry and cattle to earn a living. In 2009, John earned his Master’s degree in Mathematical Sciences from UALR. He taught everything from Algebra II to AP Calculus BC at Vilonia. John taught concurrent credit classes at Vilonia for 14 years, AP Statistics for 10 years, and AP Calculus AB and BC for four years. He challenged all students to do their best and encouraged them to strive for excellence. John quickly recognized how to leverage the Advanced Placement program to motivate students and increase achievement. His dedication to students was recognized through National Board Certification in 2012, designation as School Employee of the year in 2014 and 2018, appointment to the Governor’s School Safety Commission in 2018 and 2022, receiving an Outstanding Educator Award from the University of Chicago in 2021, and appointment to the Advisory Board of the Arkansas Center for School safety in 2022. John became an AP Statistics Exam reader for CollegeBoard in 2020. He looks forward to helping other teachers and schools serve their students through AR AIMS.

Math Team

Joanne Smith

Although I was born and raised in Memphis, my husband and I moved to Arkansas about 50 years ago so I call it home. I have two sons, one in Missouri and the other in California, and I so enjoy visiting them and my five grandchildren and daughters-in-law. I retired after 22 years of teaching mathematics of all levels at West Memphis High School. I taught AP Statistics for the last 13 years and think it is a course that benefits all students. Even though I retired, I am still involved in math education. Besides being an AP Statistics consultant for the last two years with AR AIMS, I tutor many junior high and high school students throughout the year especially for ACT prep. I am currently serving as the financial officer for the Arkansas Council of Teachers of Mathematics and was the 2002 recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. When West Memphis was a cohort in AR AIMS, I felt like our entire AP program was enhanced and the teachers became better teachers and the students became better students. I so enjoyed having the opportunity to teach in many Saturday prep sessions across the state and interact with dedicated and enthused AP Statistics teachers. Through AR AIMS, I am fortunate to be able to keep my hand in math and reconnect with stat teachers that I have worked with in the past and meet new teachers.

Karen Greer

began working for Arkansas AIMS in August 2018. Before retiring to Fayetteville, she taught mathematics for 42 years in the El Dorado School District. Her experience ranges from pre-AP sixth grade math to Math Instructional Facilitator and AP Calculus AB, which she taught for 12 years. She also taught Math for Teachers I and II, College Algebra, and College Trigonometry at South Arkansas Community College. She has benefited from many years’ experience with Arkansas AIMS, as El Dorado was a Cohort 1 school. Karen is married, has a daughter and son, and four grandchildren.

Mike Buchan

grew up in Jacksonville, Arkansas and graduated from Jacksonville High School. He then attended UCA and earned his BSE and eventually his MSE there. He then went on to teach in the Pulaski County Special School DIstrict for 35 years until he retired in 2019. During this time he taught 4 years at Mills High School, 23 years at Oak Grove High School, and finished up with 8 years at Maumelle High School. Along the way he taught every math class offered from basic math to BC Calculus. He also coached football, baseball, and golf. Mike taught Calculus for 22 years while at Oak Grove and Maumelle. During this time the AP scores for his classes were among the highest in PCSSD. He also taught numerous concurrent classes for UCA and UALR. He also taught College Algebra classes at night at UCA. Since retiring he splits his time between babysitting his granddaughters, golfing, riding motorcycles, and playing guitar in a rock band. Mike is in his first year as an AR AIMS Math Consultant. He is now excited to help others through the AIMS program. A program that helped him immensely while teaching at Maumelle.

Math Team

Math Team

Director of Math Programs

John Allison

Math Team

Joanne Smith

Karen Greer

Mike Buchan

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