Professional Testimonials
Student Testimonials
“I had the unique privilege to teach next door to Ms. Dutton and to share a similar cohort of students at a Title 1 school. The narrative theme throughout the year: Ms. Dutton is committed to student learning. I saw students enter her doors completely insecure in not only math but their ability to succeed in life, and leave at the end of the year confident not simply in knowing the steps of how to solve a problem, but articulating why they needed to use that method and why the steps worked.”
- Laura Fittz
“Lizzy’s classroom is a joy to behold. Students are engaged in clear protocols and classroom structures of collaboration and teamwork to build communal knowledge and learn complex topics. In my observations, students are actively engaged in teaching each other; there is a tangible sense of intrinsic motivation. In a discipline where so many students have a negative self concept, Lizzy has clearly created a culture where students feel empowered to question, feel comfortable taking risks, and find joy in the process of problem solving.”
- Mike Celleme
“What sticks out most to me about Elizabeth’s teaching is that she created conditions where students could learn and discover problem solving techniques through playful experimentation and collaboration. Through puzzles and art projects, students would work on their own and with other students and teachers to learn the skills to finish the tasks in creative ways. I think when students learn problem solving methods through their own exploration instead of having an instructor simply explain it to them, they have more confidence and what they’ve learned sticks with them more. I also think students learn more when they’re having fun, and students in Elizabeth’s class really seemed to have a good time.”
- Zack Haber
“Lizzy is always working towards equity and is extremely reflective in her practice. I first met Lizzy back in July 2018 when she participated in the SFUSD’s math Complex Instruction five day summer course. Lizzy was willing to think hard about supporting group work in her classroom, consider how to help her students see their own and their peer’s math brilliance, and reflect on how status plays out in her classroom. I was always impressed with the questions Lizzy would ask in her group and to herself in her reflections. I was also able to visit Lizzy’s math classes a few times throughout the school year, including bringing outsiders to visit her classroom. I saw a caring community that Lizzy clearly set up with her students, and most importantly, I saw students engaged in grade level mathematics.”
- Angela Torres
“I teach mathematics at MetWest High School where I work alongside Elizabeth. She has reminded me to use appropriate trauma informed practices and I know I can talk to and not feel judged by her. She also taught me how to better utilize group work to make a more equitable classroom, and is the only teacher that my students remember and miss from online school last year.”
- Bret Blubaugh
“Elizabeth is such a good math teacher. She has helped me with so much, I have learned so much math from her. And when I don’t understand something she makes sure I understand it. And she always puts our education first.”
- Ahlam
“Lizzy (as we all call her), was my math teacher last year during online school here at MetWest. She was an amazing teacher, always making sure that everyone understood how to do work in her class and that we never felt lost or not listened to. As you know, having to switch to online school was difficult for everyone, especially as students who sometimes need some extra support. I personally remember feeling so frustrated sometimes because I’ve never been very good at math, but Lizzy always made time to help me and make sure that I was ok. Apart from being an amazing teacher, she's also an amazing person and has so much patience and kindness for all her students.
- Andrea
“I remember joining my first Algebra 1 zoom meeting that day with my teacher Elizabeth. Her personality and tone made me feel welcome. She was kind, caring, smart, and she was and is always trying to be aware of what is going on in our lives to make us feel better. Even though being online was hard enough for us as students, Elizabeth found a way and the Algebra work didn’t feel as hard. She was always assigning interactive and effective ways of learning. Being back in person was even better because I actually looked forward to the Geometry period. Like my experience, many other of my classmates also feel the same way.”
- Angelica
“When I first met Lizzy, I was introduced to her as our Algebra 2 teacher in August of 2020 during zoom. I recall Lizzy being kind, enthusisatic and welcoming to her students. Although class with Lizzy was online, Lizzy genuinely appeared to enjoy spending her time teaching class. She has demonstrated her care and support by constantly having icebreakers or unique Do Nows in the beginning of each class to have us students interact and get to know one another more. When Lizzy taught, she would go into lessons making sure students participated in group work and shared their understanding from a math problem so that all the students understood the work as well. I would definitely say I learned a lot of math skills. Thanks to Lizzy, class with her was very productive.”
- Belen
“From the first day that I walked into Ms. Dutton’s class, she welcomed me and everyone else very kindly and immediately provided a safe space for us. Ms. Dutton is a teacher that dedicates her time inside and outside the classroom to support her students to be the best they can be. I remember how hard she worked for us and with us. Ms. Dutton encouraged me and all her students to participate in class and made sure to include every student. She prioritized giving every student the opportunity to shine in their own ways.
- Berenice
“She is an amazing teacher who cares about her students. I can say that I actually learn math in her class. She makes me actually want to do math, even though I'm not a fan of it. She takes her time to make sure we understand the subject and moves on until everyone is ready. She checks-in with us at the beginning of class and sees if we’re ok and if we’re not, she always offers her support.
- Elena
“Lizzy is the best math teacher I have ever had. I never liked math growing up but when I had her she made me understand it quickly. When we all need something she is always there for us. She makes the class our home and she’s always there when we need help or we need to talk. She always puts us first. She makes math fun and I know she enjoys teaching us. When we are down she always tries to put a smile on our faces.”
- Eman
“During the course of the year when ever I had a dumb thought or if I made things too complicated for myself Ms.Dutton would always made sure I was understanding the material she was teaching. She didn’t give up on anyone because she was not giving up on the students that would not even try in class. When I had those “AH-HA” moment in class that’s when I started to fall in love with Math. I really loved her class because she even challenged us to do better. For example our group didn’t realize that we needed to stop for a check-in and so we tried going ahead. The problem was able knowing the equations by looking at the line and we actually found the equation. Instead of making us feel guilty for going ahead and blame us for not following to directions properly she praised us and wanted us to talk about our thinking process during the whole thing. Ms.Dutton would never judge a kid because of them outside the class nor even stop teaching them because of it. She will put all of her time and effort to help one student and that’s something a student really needs.”
- Glesaree
“I remember last year she saw me not doing great in class. She told me to stay after class to talk to me, I opened up to her, and she gave me advice on how to handle what was going on. She helped me with assignments that were missing, and she motivated me to do work until I got my grades to an A. I told her that I’m not good at math, and she talked to me and took some time to do an assignment with me to help me understand better.”
- Ghaida
“She has the best personality and we actually learned math from her. I always looked forward to attending her class because she made it fun. She knows what's best for her students and meets their needs.”
- Remy
“She has taught me so much during her time as my math teacher and has really made learning math fun. Many of my classmates agree with me when we say that she is the only teacher who has actually taught us math. This may sound emotional but allow me to explain. The many math teachers that I’ve had didn’t care if we were paying attention, if we knew what we were learning about, didn’t ask us questions, and just didn't care if we even attended the class. But Elizabeth has always took time out of her day to stay after school and help us with our math homework, asked us questions to see if we understood the lesson, has made days where we could catch up on work if we were behind in her class, has tried to make math fun, and has actually been able to explain math in a way were we can understand. I have never been good at math, even in the beginning of the school year I thought that I wouldn’t be able to pass the semester with a good grade in math but after having Elizabeth as my teacher I can say that I have learned so much and even more than I thought I would have and have also passed the class with an outstanding grade.”
- Michele
“During my freshman year at Metwest high school Lizzy was my algebra teacher. During those times I was in a very dark part of my life but even with all the things going on in my life when I was in her class she would make me feel safe and uplift my spirit. It was like no matter how you were feeling she could always uplift your spirit and you can tell that she really took her time to plan for her classes and she really enjoyed teaching us.”
- Miguel
“Lizzy has so many characteristics that exemplify a remarkable educator. She is empathetic and shows this by always listening to her students and acting accordingly to satisfy our needs academically and emotionally. She is generous and never hesitates to give to her students and make us feel special. She is interesting when she teaches, in a refreshing way. She makes us feel engaged in the classroom and in our learning in a way that not many math teachers have been able to do for me, personally. A subject like mathematics can often make students feel disempowered, lost, unworthy, and dumb. Lizzy makes us feel the opposite of all of those things, and truly allows us to blossom as learners. She helps us see the world in brand new ways as well as apply our learning to that same world we’re looking at. I have been so blessed to experience this as a young person.”
- Nadira
“I used to be a student of Ms. Dutton’s at Glencliff High School back in 2014 through 2016. Her math class is one of the very few classes I remember to this day because not only was it a class where I learned a great deal, but it was also a class where I felt welcomed and safe — all because of Ms. Dutton. She was — and still is, I am sure — a passionate educator who not only excels at teaching the required material to her students, but also cares about each and every single one of her student’s lives and well-being. She never hesitated to go out of her way to make the classroom a welcoming and safe space, and she never ceased to make learning enjoyable!”
- Nancy
“She is a great teacher. I took her math class and it was the most engaging class I have ever been in. She helped me find a love and deep understanding of mathematics.
- Rio
“I had Lizzy for 9th grade math and she was an amazing teacher. She took her time explaining everything and she even offered extra tutoring if you needed extra help. I used to hate math and she helped me to grow to like math. She took notice I was pretty good at math and even offered to sign me up for a math program. She is sweet and caring of her students and makes sure they reach their full potential.”
- Ximena
“Lizzy is a gifted mathematics tutor who combines her vast experience as a school teacher, her training as an educational researcher, and her talent as an artist to make difficult concepts accessible to all students. I had the privilege of serving as Lizzy’s Faculty Advisor during 2016–2018, when she earned her graduate degree at the University of California Berkeley, in the Graduate School of Education’s program "Masters and Credentials in Science and Mathematics Education" (MACSME). Lizzy’s capstone project, an empirical study of mathematical meaning making through collaborative problem solving, is until today perhaps the best MA thesis I have supervised. Ever since, I have continued to work with Lizzy. She has hosted my lab’s experimental work, and she has co-authored scientific publications with me. And Lizzy's just such a nice person. I very strongly recommend her and look forward to following her new tutoring project.”
- Dor Abrahamson