Jenny Weenig, a 3rd grade teacher at Southland Elementary of Jordan School District (UT), has been named the Open Up Resources Teacher of the Month for November 2025. Weenig is being recognized for her outstanding work in her classroom and ongoing support of teachers across the country as a member of the Open Up Resources National Professional Learning Community.

Weenig’s work with Open Up Resources K–5 Math makes her one of the most innovative teachers in the country. The Open Up Resources K–5 Math curriculum inspires a new way of teaching math by transforming classrooms into hives of activity, focusing on discussion, questioning, debate, and the deeper conceptual learning of mathematics that follows. 

Elizabeth Felt, an Assistant Principal at Southland Elementary, nominated Weenig for being a phenomenal teacher, colleague, and human. Felt shared, “Jenny inspires thoughtful critical thinking in her classroom and provides a safe space for all of her students to find success. Her classroom discourse is well-orchestrated and deliberate. Her students feel empowered to share their thinking, and they encourage each other through math tasks. Jenny works hard to make mathematical thinking visible in her classroom each and every day. She is an example of being a life-long learner and is a support to everyone at Southland Elementary!”

Weenig elaborated on the student discourse in her classroom. She said, “The engagement is incredible! Students are buzzing with excitement, showing full involvement, and they truly love getting hands-on with the activities and manipulatives… Students shared that they love math and find the hands-on learning, activities, and manipulatives to be fun. This is a breakthrough, as getting students to focus in Math has typically been a struggle.”

Weenig explained how she uses Open Up Resources K–5 Math to guide her teaching rather than utilizing it as a script for lessons. She explained, “My goal is to empower students to own their education, using the curriculum as a framework for discovery, not a rigid script. When we allow for exploration guided by the [Open Up Resources K–5 Math] curriculum, students will not only master math but also genuinely enjoy it, creating shared excitement for everyone in the classroom.”

Open Up Resources is a non-profit publisher in pursuit of delivering the highest quality learning experiences for all students by providing educators best in class, research-based PreK–12 curricula and professional learning so they may support every student’s academic success and create in-class experiences that celebrate, honor, and empower all students. Learn more at www.openupresources.org.