Eight Over 80: Karen Page – She's always been ahead of the curve

Page, 85, has always been ahead of the curve, being a woman in the male-dominated field of mathematics and extending her independence into her later years. She is a recipient of The Courier’s Eight Over 80 Award after receiving six nominations.

Always knowing she wanted to be a teacher while growing up in Clarence, Page taught algebra, trigonometry, pre-calculus and computer science at Cedar Falls High School from 1970 to 1999.

She didn’t know math would be her discipline until her professor at Luther College in Decorah was so impressed with her math scores he told her she should change her major. She was one of two women in the mathematics department, working alongside about 20 men.

When she was at Cedar Falls, she said, she was one of the only female math teachers.

One of her nominators, Steve Bernard, was a former student of hers.

“She actually made trigonometry interesting, understandable and relevant. She was such a caring and exceptional teacher,” he said. “The skills I learned and confidence I gained under her instruction certainly impacted my own and countless other students’ choices for higher education and future vocations.”

Page strived to be a role model, especially for the teenage girls in her classes.

“I always felt proud of the fact that as a woman in mathematics, I could serve as a role model or be a mentor,” she said.

When other women asked what she did for work, they were astonished.

“(They said) ‘Oh I couldn’t do that, I just was always bad at math,’” she continued. “It made me feel good that I could say, you know, it’s not for everyone, but women can do this.”

Not only did she teach her students well, she was recognized by leaders across the country – even former President Ronald Reagan. She received the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 1984. The award was created in 1983 and is still given out today.

She won a trip to Washington, D.C., and $5,000.

Instead of pocketing the money, Page invested it back into the Cedar Falls community.

She wrote an application for and received a three-year grant to work with district teachers to fine tune their curriculum. That went so well she wrote another application. And then another one. And then another. In total, she won grants to implement programs to teach teachers for nine years.

While at Cedar Falls Schools, she was the president of the Iowa Council of Teachers and president of the Cedar Falls Education Association and its chief negotiator for bargaining contracts.

Since her retirement in 1999, she has continued to be a leader.

“I have gifts. I have the intelligence to do math. I’ve learned how to be a leader and I have things. I can sing. I can sew. I’m fortunate,” she said. “But to me, that implies giving back. If I’m given something, Ive got to, I’m required, expected to give back.”

Currently, she is part of the Philanthropic Educational Organization which is committed to advancing education for women, involved in the Cedar Falls Woman’s Club, the 19th Century Club forming friendships with Bosnian families, and holds a position on the Northeast Iowa United Women of Faith board.

Most Tuesdays, she is at her church using her sewing and quilting skills for mission work. She brought together a group of women to sew reusable feminine hygiene products that are sent across the globe to women and girls who cannot afford them.

She helped fund the project by convincing men at the Lion’s Club to participate.

“You could hear a pin drop when I presented this,” she said with a laugh. “But I had a captive audience, and they just love it.”

Her need to remain active did not end when she retired. She soon created a group she dubbed “The Adventure Women” – women who did not want to settle down while their husbands played bridge and golf.

“We went and said, ‘Hey! We’re not done yet!,’” she said. “We have rafted down the Grand Canyon. We have canoed in the Boundary Waters.”

With the friend group getting older, The Adventure Women don’t participate in crazy excursions, but Page continues on by herself. Her husband passed away about 15 years ago, so she visits her four children, 13 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild by herself.

“That’s why I drive the motor home,” she said. “If I waited until I could find another woman or someone to go with me, I’d never go.”