Natalie Woods
Natalie Woods
Fellowship Placement: U.S. Department of Defense, Air Force
Hometown: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Natalie Woods is a passionate and accomplished educator based in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She most recently taught at Thunder Ridge High School, where she instructed AP Calculus BC, Multivariable Calculus 3 and Honors Algebra 2. In partnership with Idaho State University, she offered dual credit Calculus 1, 2, and 3, enabling many students to complete the full engineering calculus sequence while still in high school. With over 35 years in mathematics and science education, Natalie’s career spans 15 years in high schools in Arizona, Texas, and Idaho, and 27 years in college instruction, including 18 years at Austin Community College.
Natalie holds a Master of Education in Mathematics Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University Portland and a Bachelor of Arts in Physics and Mathematics Education from Arizona State University. Her accolades include the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, being named a U.S. Presidential Scholar’s Most Influential Teacher, and recognition as a national STEM Scholar Teacher by the Waste Management Symposia, where she now serves on the WM STEM Educators’ Council. She is also an AP Calculus Reader.
Natalie has guided students in developing leadership through impactful projects. As the TRHS National Honor Society advisor, she fostered a culture of student-led initiatives and community engagement, where the chapter earned the prestigious Service Pillar Award for contributions that reached from the local community to the global stage. Her students have presented sessions at national conferences, sharing their experiences and inspiring others. In recognition of their housing relief efforts for war victims in Ukraine, she and her students were honored and thanked in person by former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko.
Natalie inspires and empowers students to become confident problem-solvers and leaders ready for STEM careers, while equipping fellow educators with strategies to foster that same confidence in their classrooms. As a former mathematics department chair and a mentor to new teachers across Idaho, she has guided professional development initiatives that elevate both teaching and learning. A statewide leader in STEM education and policy, Natalie serves on the board of the Idaho Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM) and as Idaho’s representative to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). She collaborates with the Idaho State Department of Education on curriculum review, teacher mentoring, and course alignment to help shape STEM pathways aligned with local and national priorities.
