Quilimaca Padilla has been a dedicated mathematics educator since 2005. She holds a Master’s in Secondary Education and a double major in Applied Mathematics and Spanish. She currently maintains a Level III teaching license in New Mexico with endorsements in Secondary Mathematics and Modern and Classical Languages.
This year, Ms. Padilla is teaching Algebra 1 and IB Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (AI) Year 1. She is passionate about helping students at various levels build both confidence and curiosity in mathematics. Her classroom approach utilizes diverse strategies to engage students, including peer collaboration, small-group work, real-life application problems, seminars, and guided notes.
In Algebra 1, her students focus on developing foundational skills such as solving equations, modeling real-world scenarios, interpreting graphs, and mathematical reasoning. In IB Math AI Year 1, 11th-grade students explore the first four topics of the IB syllabus and begin developing their internal assessment skills. A significant focus of the IB course is the integration of technology, specifically mastery of the graphing display calculator.
In addition to her classroom teaching, Ms. Padilla serves as an advisory teacher for students in Year 1 of the IB Diploma Programme, guiding them as they begin their CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) experiences. She also acts as the BYU credit recovery facilitator at Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School, assisting students with course enrollment and credit recovery needs.