Transforming Secondary Mathematics Teacher Preparation: A Conference to Focus on Recruitment and Equity

This project aims to serve the national interest by convening a conference focused on increasing the number of higher education institutions that are committed to improving secondary mathematics teacher recruitment and preparation programs, ultimately improving access to high-quality mathematics instructions for 6-12th grade students. The Association of Mathematics Teacher Educator’s (AMTE), Get the Facts Out (GFO) taskforce, and the Mathematics Teacher Education Partnership (MTE-P), will use this conference as a vehicle to address issues related to recruiting diverse mathematics teacher candidates, exploring transformational efforts relevant to teaching, and examining the role of equity in secondary mathematics teacher recruitment and preparation.

New and existing partners will share tools and strategies for solving common challenges and develop ideas for local program transformation efforts. Broadening participation in who becomes mathematics teachers is vital; therefore, the project will approach recruitment and program transformation efforts from an equity perspective.

At the 2022 MTE-P & GFO Conference, participants will engage in focused discussions about the significant work of transforming preparation programs to more closely align with the AMTE’s Standards for Preparing Teachers of Mathematics. The conference will be offered in a hybrid format, with participants invited to fully engage either in-person or online.

The in-person portion will be held in the same location as the 2022 AMTE annual conference, one day prior to the AMTE conference. An evaluation effort will examine (1) the ways in which the conference has expanded the network of partners who focus on secondary mathematics teacher preparation beyond the GFO and MTE-P communities, and (2) the degree to which the sessions address equity, diversity, and inclusivity; recruitment strategies; as well as supports for and dimensions of program transformation.

Information and materials from the MTE-P & GFO Conference themes and sessions will be disseminated through the AMTE newsletter and the Teaching Mathematics Teachers podcast. By utilizing ideas of improvement science to support institutional transformation, participants will impact STEM educational experiences across K–12 and post-secondary contexts.

The NSF IUSE: EHR Program support research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.