Please Join Us For a celebration of the life of CA mathematics teacher John Threlkeld, Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 10 a.m. in the Froelicher Theatre on the Colorado Academy Campus, 3800 South Pierce Street Denver, CO 80235.  Reception to follow at Colorado Academy in the Dining Hall. Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the theatre (between the theatre and the Newton Gymnasium).

John Threlkeld of Evergreen, CO passed away on Sunday, June 7, 2015 after a protracted illness. He was 60.

 

John was born in New Jersey on June 20, 1954, the son of the late Aubrey and Elizabeth Morgan Threlkeld. He spent a good part of his career  -- from 1986 to 2008 -- at Graland Country Day School in Denver teaching mathematics, and then joined the faculty of Colorado Academy in 2009 as both mathematics teacher and math department chair.

 

His passion for math centered on helping students develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and on using technology to enhance the math experience.  Throughout his career, he taught Geometry, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, Introduction to Computers, and more. John served the world of mathematics education far beyond Colorado. He was part of educational committees for the National Center for Education Statistics in Mathematics Assessment and the National Assessment of Educational Programs. As a member of the standing committee on mathematics for the Educational Records Bureau, he helped to author ERB standardized math assessments.

 

He was a presenter countless times at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), the Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics (CCTM), the Technology in Education (TIE) Conferences, the Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS), and many more. His topics ranged from “Mathematics and Music,” “Symmetry and the Arts,” to “What are Pantographs?” or “How to use Good Problems to Motivate Mathematics.”  His teaching practice was examined in detail in the book, Intellectual Character: What it Is, Why it Matters, and How to Get It. [Jossey-Bass, 2002]. John was honored as Mathematics Teacher of the Year by the CCTM (1994), by Phillips Exeter Academy as a leading math educator (2009), and by Colorado Academy with the Frances Newton Award for excellence in teaching (2012).

  

John graduated cum laude in 1976 from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and with distinction in all subjects. He earned a Master’s degree from Dartmouth College.  While still in college, he worked as a mathematics teacher at Verona High School in Verona, New Jersey. He went on to teach math, physics, and outdoor education at schools on the East Coast. Barely out of graduate school, he became the publisher and general manager of the Johnson County News in Cleburne, Texas and comptroller of the family-owned Information Company, the parent company of the Johnson County News. 

 

John was preceded in death by his twin brother, Tom Steinert-Threlkeld. He is survived by his daughter and son, Liz Threlkeld (Casey) of Seattle, and Chris Threlkeld (Alex) of Greeley, CO; his wife, Cindy, of Evergreen. CO; and his sister, Laura Threlkeld Anello of Rockaway, NJ.  In John’s memory, family and friends suggest donations in his name be made to one of the following organizations:

 

 

Colorado Academy:

 

Graland Country Day School:

 

The National Council for the Teachers of Mathematics: http://www.nctm.org/Donate/

 

Be The Match.org (make a gift or join the bone marrow registry)

 

Denver Hospice: