Education: Bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Pittsburgh and master's degree in early childhood education from Carlow College.
Occupation: Mathematics and technology teacher at the Pittsburgh Elementary Gifted Center.
Background: Kadash has been a teacher for nearly 15 years.
Noteworthy: Kadash was one of 35 teachers nationwide to receive a $10,000 Toyota TIME 2002 grant award for excellence and innovation in mathematics education for his project, "The Math Sleuth Agency." The program is for third- and fourth-grade students, and it is aimed at better preparing students for the written mathematical communication requirement found in the extended-response items on district, state and national assessments.
Quote: "I wasn't sure it was going to happen," Kadash said of "The Math Sleuth Agency." "I was kind of excited, plus I got to go to Las Vegas."