Update on State Initiatives

Statewide Math Initiative

by Rebecca Davis

The Statewide Math initiative is a collaborative venture between Texas LEARNS and the South Region GREAT Center. The Math Initiative was begun in response to research conducted by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), which identified four areas of the GED Mathematics Test most commonly missed in the United States:

• Geometry and Measurement
• Reading and Interpreting Graphs and Tables
• Application of Basic Math Principles to Calculations
• Problem Solving and Mathematical Reasoning

In order to address the identified areas of deficiency, Texas LEARNS and the South Region GREAT Center began to develop a plan for math instructor professional development with an emphasis on the four key components. The first step was to recruit some of the top math instructors in the state through nomination by the Adult Education Directors. These top instructors were picked to develop innovative instruction to share with other math instructors across the state. The members of Cohort I included:

Robert Ayala – Dallas ISD Adult Basic Education
Tim Bickerstaff – Community Action GED (Bastrop)
Marcella Bradley – East GREAT Center
Walter Bundy – East GREAT Center
Mary Alice Carlson – Kyle Learning Center
Gaye Carroll – Odessa College ABE
Kathy Dowdy – Austin Community College Adult Education
Kenneth Fahndrick – Region 6
Dirk Hodges- Cleburne ISD
John Hodges – Del Mar College
Denise Johnson- Houston Community College
Susan Kautz – Coastal GREAT Center
Ginny Marek – Advocacy Outreach
Kelly Meeks – Navarro College
Serapio Serna – Alice ISD Adult Education
Krista Young – Abilene Adult Education

Phase II of the 2007-08 initiative was materials development. Cohort 1 developed three CDs where the Master Teachers each demonstrate an individual concept. These demonstration lessons have accompanying lesson plans that coincide with Texas Adult Education Content Standards. This resource was designed to give teachers a multi-learning style application that was free and easy to use. The first CD with accompanying lesson plans was distributed in July at Salado. The other two CDs will be ready for distribution within the next three months.

Building upon the foundation laid by Cohort I, a new cohort was formed for the 2009-10 fiscal year by again requesting nominations for Master Math Teachers from adult education directors throughout the state. The new teachers who were nominated and were selected by the screening committee are:

Vicki Angel - Texarkana-Bowie-Cass Adult Education
Reda Berry - Erskin Education Center (Seguin)
*Mary Alice Carlson – Kyle Learning Center
*Gaye Carroll – Odessa College ABE
Jan Davis – Dallas ISD
Tristyn Davis – Coastal GREAT Center
Johnny Di Girolamo – Midland College Adult Education
Yadira Dominquz - Region 16 ESC
*Kenneth Fahndrick – Region 6
Maurice Fritz – Trinity Valley Community College
Elva Garcia – South GREAT Center
Karen Greer – Victoria College & South Central GREAT Center
*Dirk Hodges- Cleburne ISD
* Denise Johnson- Houston Community College
Angie Kaldro – Bryan Adult Learning Center
Patsy King - Victoria College & South Central GREAT Center
Oscar Martinez – Ft. Worth ISD Adult Education
LaShondia McNeal – Houston Community College
*Kelly Meeks – Navarro College
Manuel Navarro - Southwest Texas Junior College Uvalde
Irene Ramos – South Central GREAT Center
Sara Reynolds – Austin Community College
Mary Sampson - – Austin Community College
Cheryl Sanders – Harris County Dept of Edu Adult Education
Connie Siebert – Austin Learning Academy
Jan Whisonant – Ft. Worth ISD Adult Education
*Krista Young – Abilene Adult Education

*Continued from Cohort I

The Master Teachers of Cohort II met for two days in Salado where they began development of agendas to accompany lesson plans. They will meet again in October to finalize agendas and prepare to begin working with their colleagues in the field. The goal for this initiative is for the Master Teachers to be able to share their expertise and materials with other math teachers and ultimately help students become proficient in the four key areas identified by OVAE.

As a part of Phase III, the Master Teachers of Cohort II will be conducting professional development workshops across Texas which focus on the four key areas utilizing the agendas, lesson plans and CDs they developed. If you would like to schedule a math workshop at your program site with one of the Math Master

Teachers, please contact Dr. Rebecca Davis at the South Region GREAT Center (email: Rebecca.davis@tamuk.edu).

About the Author

Rebecca Davis is the Director of the South Region GREAT Center. She received her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in Educational Human Resource Development. Dr. Davis is also an Assistant Professor and the Graduate Coordinator of Adult Education Online Masters Program at Texas A&M University– Kingsville.