The Future of Math: Classroom Teaching

April 25, 12:30 pm ET

The traditional math classroom – 20-30 students all dutifully following a single certified teacher’s lead for about an hour a day for 180 days – has remained remarkably stable for decades. The pandemic upended that traditional setup, opening up the possibility for changes. What emerges as the “new normal” is still up for debate. How should students progress from one topic to the next? How do we ensure that students who have had fewer prior opportunities still thrive? How do we recruit, train, support, and retain high-quality teachers? In this session we will imagine new paradigms that better support all students in mathematics.

While each webinar stands on its own, you may be interested in watching the previous or registering for the next webinars in the series: The Future of Math: Where Is Math Education Now and Where Should It Be?, The Future of Math: Content Students Need for the 21st Century, and The Future of Math: Innovations in Classroom Technology (May 9).

While others are welcome to attend, this event is intended for members and education grantmakers.

There is no cost to attend this Grantmakers for Education program. Registration closes 15 minutes prior to the program time. By registering for this program, you agree to our Learning Environment Commitment. Thank you for your patience; we review each registration in advance.

About the Speakers

Dr. Shelbi Cole
Director, Mathematics
Student Achievement Partners

Shelbi Cole is a Director at Student Achievement Partners who works with states, districts, publishers, and vendors on curating resources and learning opportunities in service of equitable mathematics instruction. She previously served as the Director of Mathematics for the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium where she led the multi-state consortium’s design and development efforts building the system from the ground up and she continues to serve as a member of the Technical Advisory Committee. Shelbi has received multiple awards from the National Association for Gifted Children for her research and curriculum development. Dr. Cole has taught at the high school and collegiate levels and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mathematics Education and a doctoral degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Connecticut.

Dr. Dave Kung
Independent Consultant

Dr. Dave Kung (he/him) spent more than 20 years at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where he was a professor for various courses across the mathematics curriculum in the Department of Math and Computer Science. While there, he co-founded an Emerging Scholars program to retain minoritized students. Dave is an award-winning teacher and also serves as the director of MAA Project NExT, a professional development program for new faculty in the mathematical sciences.

Joel Rose
Co-Founder and CEO
New Classrooms

As a 5th-grade teacher, Joel Rose was committed to providing all of his students with an education they needed and deserved. Despite long hours and extensive training, he struggled with how best to organize daily instruction around the unique needs and strengths of each of his students. To address this challenge, Joel co-founded New Classrooms Innovation Partners as an independent, non-profit organization in order to bring innovative learning products and models to more students. Joel has published articles about personalized learning, innovation, and school models in The Atlantic, The 74, and Education Next. He has spoken at numerous convenings, including the Aspen Institute Ideas Festival; NBC’s Education Nation; and the annual conferences for the American Federation of Teachers, National School Boards Association, and National Association of Independent Schools. Joel holds a B.A. in political science from Tufts University and a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law; and is also a Pahara-Aspen Education Fellow at the Aspen Institute.

Dr. Trena Wilkerson
Professor of Mathematics Education and Interim Chair of the Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Baylor University

Trena Wilkerson is Professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the School of Education at Baylor University and is currently Interim Department Chair. There she teaches both graduate and undergraduate mathematics education courses and conducts professional development for Pk-12 teachers and engages in research in the teaching and learning of mathematics. She previously taught high school mathematics for 18 years. She has spoken at local, state, national and international conferences and has published in numerous research and practitioner journals. She served on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Board of Directors from 2014 to 2017 and as President from 2020-2022, along with various leadership roles in other national and state mathematics education organizations. She has received several awards for teaching, research, and leadership. Most recently she received the 2024 Louise Hay Award for Contributions to Mathematics Education from the Association for Women in Mathematics. She loves teaching and learning mathematics in support of current and future mathematics teachers and leaders!

Dr. Aris Winger
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Georgia Gwinnett College

Aris Winger is an assistant professor of Mathematics at Georgia Gwinnett College. A native of Washington D.C., he is a graduate of Howard University (B.S. in Mathematics) and Carnegie Mellon University (M.S. and Ph.D in mathematical sciences). His current areas of interest and research include Equity in mathematical spaces, culturally responsive teaching, and social justice mathematics. He is a co-author of the book series Advocating for Students of Color in Mathematics currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Association of Mathematicians.