Christine Ruza graduated with her BMath from the University of Waterloo in 1994, and began her teaching career with the Waterloo Region District School Board that same year. She has been a Mathematics and Computer Science teacher at Elmira District Secondary School since 1999, and was named Head of the Mathematics department in 2012.  In the classroom, she challenges her students to find creative solutions to real-life problems – for example, she teaches students to develop and program apps using Swift. Christine is her school’s math contest coordinator and organizer, and works tirelessly with the students and teachers to prepare. Christine was awarded the University of Waterloo Excellence in Mathematics Award in 2012, and in 2017, she was recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing. Christine enjoys spending time with her family and being actively involved in her church. Her hobbies include playing board games with her husband and two children, gardening, crocheting and solving math puzzles.