Wendy Grooms serves as an Associate Professor of Mathematics in Howard Payne University’s School of Science & Mathematics. With more than 37 years of teaching experience, including more than 30 years at HPU, Grooms has devoted much of her career to helping students grow in both mathematical understanding and personal confidence. Her work reflects a strong commitment to education, faith, and the belief that mathematics can help students develop important skills for life.
Grooms teach a variety of mathematics courses, including Foundations of Algebra, College Algebra, Contemporary Mathematics, Introduction to Probability & Statistics, Mathematics for Elementary Teachers, and Mathematics for Secondary Teachers. Her favorite courses to teach are the Mathematics for Teachers classes because they give her the opportunity to prepare future educators to understand mathematics deeply and communicate it effectively to their own students.
One of the aspects Grooms values most about teaching at Howard Payne is the freedom to integrate her Christian faith into the classroom. She believes education should include more than academic content alone. For her, teaching is also an opportunity to help students think about purpose, responsibility, and the way their abilities can be used in service to others. She appreciates being able to combine mathematical instruction with a faith-centered approach that reflects the mission of HPU.
Grooms especially enjoys investing in the lives of her students and watching them develop both mathematically and spiritually. She believes God has given her a genuine love for students as well as a love for what she describes as His world of numbers. That combination has shaped her career and continues to motivate her work in the classroom. She is passionate about sharing mathematics with the students placed in her path and helping them see that mathematical thinking can be understandable, meaningful, and rewarding.
Grooms earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Texas A&M University and a Master of Science in Mathematics Teaching from Tarleton State University. Her academic preparation, combined with decades of classroom experience, has given her a strong foundation for helping students develop mathematical reasoning, problem-solving skills, and confidence.
She has also presented on mathematics education. Her presentation, “The How & The Why: Helping Students Move Beyond Rote Memorization and Procedures by Fostering Conceptual Understanding, Along with Skill Development to Build Confident Problem Solvers,” was presented at the Conference for the Advancement of Mathematics Teaching. The topic reflects her teaching philosophy of helping students understand not only how mathematical procedures work, but also why they work.
Outside of the classroom, Grooms enjoys studying the Bible and talking with others about Jesus and His works. She also enjoys outdoor activities, including walking, running, hiking, flipping, and skiing. She is involved with First Baptist Church in Brownwood, Texas.
Grooms’ office is located in Winebrenner 101. Through her teaching, mentorship, faith, and many years of service at HPU, she seeks to help students become confident problem solvers while encouraging them to grow academically, personally, and spiritually.
