November 13, 2026
Three 2026 Grace College secondary math majors scored among the top 8.72% of test-takers nationwide on the ETS Praxis Math Content Exam, with two earning the highest score possible.
Among 6,101 exam takers nationwide, Chloe Knollenberg, Ethan Snyder and Emma Gerdt achieved these results on their first attempt, demonstrating the strength of their mathematical knowledge and preparation through Grace’s School of Education.
“This accomplishment highlights the quality of candidates we attract to the program as well as the quality of preparation they received and retained in the area of pedagogy and mathematics content,” said Dr. Kevin Voogt, associate professor of education and chair of the secondary education department. “Our program’s overall goals are for all of our secondary candidates to pass both the content and pedagogy exams before they student teach, as well as to prepare candidates who exemplify character, competence, and service.”
All three graduates secured teaching positions upon graduation and are now teaching math in schools across the country.
Originally from Wadsworth, Ohio, Ethan Snyder is now an Algebra II Teacher at Cienega High School in Vail, Arizona. Grace’s education program affirmed his calling to teach, placing him in a high school classroom within weeks of arriving on campus and providing ongoing teaching experience both within and outside the School of Education.
Snyder credits the program’s academic rigor and the mentorship of his professors for helping him succeed.
“Grace provides an incredibly rigorous program that required me to build a mathematical fluency that transcended the levels that I will ever teach in the high school setting,” said Snyder. “Dr. Ryan Johnson and Dr. Kevin Voogt consistently held me to high standards, sometimes asking of me more than I thought I was capable of, but never left me out to dry and always answered my many questions. Their influence assisted me greatly as I prepared for and took this exam.”
Chloe Knollenberg, who now teaches mathematics at Morris Community High School in her hometown of Plainfield, Illinois, also points to the importance of faculty mentorship and the supportive community she experienced at Grace.
“Ask any Grace College student, and they will tell you that the strong, Christ-centered community is what makes a Grace education so special; my response is no different,” said Knollenberg. “A supportive community of professors and peers equipped and encouraged me to step into the role to which God has called me. My math courses helped me understand the ‘why’ behind middle and high school mathematics. This conceptual understanding strengthened my problem-solving skills and allowed me to approach the content exam with greater confidence. I am certainly grateful for the results of the math content exam, but I am even more grateful for the professors at Grace who prepared me for it.”
Emma Gerdt also returned to her hometown post-graduation and became a math teacher at Valparaiso High School in Valparaiso, Indiana. She credits the collaborative problem-solving experiences in her Grace courses with shaping not only her approach to mathematics but also the kind of teacher she hopes to become.
“The most impactful part of my education was being challenged to think at a high level and encouraged to work collaboratively with those around me,” said Gerdt. “I learned how truly valuable it is to productively struggle and work together to solve problems.”
That spirit of collaboration was evident throughout the three graduates’ time at Grace, according to Professor of Mathematics Dr. Ryan Johnson.
“Emma, Chloe and Ethan often encouraged and even tutored other Grace students in their classes, each of them showing joy in solving interesting problems and helping others understand challenging concepts,” said Johnson. “It was common to hear them working with other students in the Science Center, and there was plenty of laughter between their productive work. All three of them are scholars who love learning, love people and see the connection between those loves and the way they love God.”
For Snyder, this Christ-centered approach to education provided a holistic learning experience that engaged heart, soul and body. He now carries that perspective into his own classroom through lesson planning, thoughtful questioning and relationship-building.
“Simple content knowledge means nothing to a master teacher if they do not know how to communicate the knowledge in a way that students can understand,” said Snyder. “Although I was able to do well on the exam, it was the influence of professors, along with peers and mentors, who invested in me and taught me what it means not just to know, but to teach.”
The accomplishments of these graduates reflect the School of Education’s commitment to preparing knowledgeable, capable and Christ-centered educators. Grace College’s CAEP-Accredited School of Education earned an A+ from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) for science of reading teacher training, received 100% ‘strong’ ratings from TPI-US across all three review areas and reports 100% principal satisfaction.
