By Parvi Anand
Early Thursday mornings, the Middle School Math Team, guided by senior Bailey Brunson, junior Merritt Nalle, and middle school math teacher Ms. Adam, fills a classroom with the sound of scratching pencils, chatter, and occasionally mispronounced geometric terms—like when one eighth grader adorably called “isosceles” as “i-scos-lis.”
The team, a group of dedicated sixth and seventh graders, meets twice a week in the middle school building to tackle tricky problems, compete in Math Madness competitions, and bond over their shared love for numbers.
Bailey and Merritt help these students sharpen their problem-solving skills and deepen their passion for math. Whether high-fiving over a correct answer or encouraging teammates to beat their personal bests, it’s clear that for them, math is more than just numbers—it’s a team sport.
When I asked 7th grader Katherine Bell why she joined the math team. Her response was short and sweet, “I love math and it seemed fun.”
Bailey, a senior in Lovett’s advanced math track, has taken on a significant leadership role with the team. With a background in post-AP math and AP Calculus BC, Bailey’s passion for mathematics has been a driving force throughout high school, both in terms of her personal growth and her interest in helping others.
“I started working with the middle schoolers in my sophomore year and really enjoyed it,” she shared. “Last year, when our previous leader, Ms. Morgan, retired, I took over as part of my diploma distinction project in math.”
As a leader, Bailey is responsible for planning meetings, coordinating activities, and handling competition registrations alongside Ms. Adam. The team prepares for contests such as Math Counts by solving past test problems and online practice questions. To further support students, Bailey even created a personalized notes packet, equipping them with strategies for tackling tricky competition questions.
Of course, working with middle schoolers presents its own set of challenges. “At first, it was kind of difficult to manage the noise and energy,” Bailey admitted. “Over time, I’ve learned to harness that energy and use it in fun ways, like turning problem-solving into games.”
This approach has not only made math more engaging but also helped students develop a stronger grasp of the mathematical concepts in a much more enjoyable setting.
Beyond improving their technical skills, Bailey hopes the team fosters a sense of confidence and accomplishment among its members. “I want them to see that they can tackle difficult problems and feel proud of their progress,” she said.
Looking ahead, Bailey envisions continuing her mentorship work beyond Lovett. “I think I’d be really interested in mentoring as a volunteer opportunity in college. I love working with kids, and it’s really rewarding to teach them new skills,” she said. I saw firsthand how excited the students would become when they would gain a point or get a problem right.
For high school students interested in supporting the math team, Bailey encourages them to get involved as upper school interns. “If anyone wants to help out, they should feel free to reach out to me!” she said. “There are also other great mentoring programs at Lovett, like Girl Talk and Agape, that students can explore.”
