2020 CCTM Board of Directors Candidate InformationBelow is information about each of the candidates running for the CCTM Board of Directors. Ballots will be sent to CCTM members via email and must be completed by 11:45 pm, Friday, May 1. Jump to office:
Candidates for President-ElectJoseph Bolz
Background: While you probably remember me from the Ignite Sessions at the end of the CCTM conference, I've been involved as an educator in so much more. I have worked with CCTM itself as first a presenter at conferences, then as the Exhibitor Chair for the conference itself, and now currently as the Treasurer to CCTM. I am also currently an employee of Denver Public Schools where I serve as a high school math teacher (and going on 20 years), a department chair, and an instructional coach. I am also a current Ph.D. student in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Denver, hoping to finish that dissertation soon. I have presented at numerous conferences including regional and national NCTM conferences, AATC, and TODOS. My research interests include mathematics education in an urban setting (specifically how to support under-represented populations in higher-level mathematics), new mathematics teacher preparation and retention, social justice in mathematics, and formative assessments in mathematics. I have several articles and blogs published along those lines. My partner in life, Kristen Will, is an amazing high school English teacher, and we have two wonderful daughters – Tess and Elsa. About CCTM's Role: CCTM is a pivotal backbone for the Colorado Mathematics Teaching community. The organization brings teachers and those working with teachers from across the state together in unique ways to help us all grow in our professions. CCTM provides learning to teachers through both live meetings as well as its publications, and with our current social climate, moving into the digital realm. In short, CCTM provides much of the professional development that mathematics teachers in Colorado receive, a role that continues to grow as time and technology do. Why I Want to Serve: To give back. To give back to an organization that has given so much to so many teachers. To give my knowledge and expertise that I have acquired over the past 20 years teaching as well as in my personal endeavors in both getting a Masters in Educational Leadership and now as I close in on completing my PhD in Curriculum and Instruction. To give back by finding ways of encouraging growth. I have made it a challenge every year to bring new teachers to the CCTM conference so that they may begin to see all that CCTM has to offer. In doing so, I also encourage new teachers to present at the conference so that they can then give back by sharing their knowledge. My hope is that this creates a cycle of more and more people being brought in to the community. To give back by challenging popular thinking. I choose to push the status quo and try new things especially as it promotes equity – something those of you who have seen me present or who saw my Ignite presentation last year will understand. Social Justice. Culturally Responsive Pedagogy. Equity. These are not merely words in my classroom, but the foundation for what occurs in my room. To give more to the community of mathematics teachers. There are so many out there who don’t know the wonders of CCTM that I want to help grow the organization through outreach and word of mouth. To give all I can to see CCTM flourish through the next few years. Mary Pittman
Background: Dr. Mary Pittman is a Project Director for TNTP. Mary has over twenty years of experience working in the field of K-12 mathematics education. She began her career as a middle school mathematics teacher in St. Cloud, Minnesota before moving to Colorado to work on her Ph.D. at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Mary has worked on numerous mathematics education projects including a grant from NASA developing STEM curriculum materials and an IES grant focused on supporting the transition from arithmetic to algebraic reasoning. After completing her doctoral studies, Mary became the Director of Mathematics for Boulder Valley School District before moving to the Colorado Department of Education as their PK-12 Mathematics Specialist. Mary is passionate about supporting the development of high-quality mathematics teachers and leaders with the goal of creating a mathematically literate society. In October of 2016, Mary was awarded the Floyd G. Hudson Award Service Award from the Council for Learning Disabilities. She currently serves on the CCTM Board as the Region 4 Representative and Co-Chair of the CCTM Annual Conference. About CCTM’s Role: The role of CCTM is to serve the needs of Colorado Mathematics Teachers. Traditionally, CCTM supports included a journal and an annual conference. I am excited by the possibility of expanding the ways we work as an organization to develop a community that can serve as a resource throughout the entire year. The challenges we are experiencing right now, as educators, can best be tackled together. We need to better use technology to crowdsource and curate what is working and this need won't end when we return to our classrooms. As an organization we need to listen to teachers across the state and work together to find ways to support each other to allow us all the time and energy to focus on the most important work...Educating our students. Why I Want to Serve: Throughout my time as a mathematics educator, the one constant is CCTM. When I moved to Colorado 20 years ago, I attended the annual conference to learn new ideas and most importantly to become a part of a larger community. I am so grateful for the support the community provided me over these last two decades and I want to ensure this and future generations of teachers can be supported by and contribute to the strength of that community. My goal as President of CCTM, would be to ensure we continue to create a supportive and enriching community for each and every teacher of mathematics within Colorado by adapting to the new and changing landscapes within education and our world. Candidates for Vice PresidentKim Smith
Background: My experience in education spans from PreK - 12 + Professional Development for adults. As a National Board Certified Teacher, I served elementary students as a generalist and middle school students in mathematics. I was an Elementary Content Specialist, K-12 math coach, am currently serving students and teachers as a Secondary Math Content Specialist. I am Math Recovery/ADD+Vantage Math Recovery trained and also have a leadership and special education endorsement on my teaching license. I am a Number Talks Ambassador and facilitate Number Talks every time I get a chance. I facilitate Professional Learning regularly and present at local and state conferences. About CCTM’s Role: CCTM plays a vital role in connecting and engaging math educators across the state. CCTM provides support through journal Articles, state conferences, regional events, and virtual learning and collaboration. As an affiliate of NCTM, the Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics holds the responsibility of being a liaison between the national organization and math educators in Colorado. I think CCTM serves as a voice for math educators in Colorado and I would like to hear the voice of and engage all teachers, especially those in our rural, hardest to reach areas. Why I Want to Serve: After two short years on the CCTM board as secretary, I feel as though my volunteer work with this organization is incomplete. I have loved the opportunity to grow and learn in this role and serve Colorado Math Educators in this capacity. As a CCTM board, we have made a commitment to reach more educators and broaden the scope of support for those we serve. I would like more time to see this work expand and take hold and also find ways to increase the engagement and collaboration of larger delegation of members. I feel like I have a lot of experiences and background in math education and I pride myself on the ways in which I collaborate and learn with educators across the country and the world through Twitter (@gjkmsmith) and other forms of Social Media. I am an avid learner and bring all my learning and enthusiasm to this volunteer work. Plus...I am naturally curious, a great big math nerd and I love to surround myself with folks who also enjoy the beauty, wonder, and joy of mathematics. Brock Strickland
Background: I started out as a substitute and long-term sub for Frederick County Public Schools in Maryland during a needed 'break' from college. Quickly discovering a real passion and joy, I completed my degree in Psychology before taking a role as a co-teacher and support team member at a school for students with severe emotional and behavioral disorders. Curiosity and opportunity brought me to Denver in May of 2011 where I served, at different times, as a secondary math teacher, instructional coach, and district academic support partner. Additionally, during my nearly 10-year career in Denver Public Schools, I am a 4-year reader for the AP Calculus exam and have spoken at NCTM national and regional conferences on Productive Struggle and Effective Questioning Strategies. I've had the pleasure and good fortune and working with people too numerous to name or count who have nurtured me; tutored, guided, challenged, supported, coached, mentored me. As much as I love this profession - this vocation - I am immensely grateful and engaged by my fellow colleagues, both in the 'math world' and out. About CCTM’s Role: I see four primary roles: (1) to facilitate and create opportunities for all of us to share ideas with one another and to engage in critical thinking regarding the outcomes of those ideas; (2) to advance a culture of equity where each and every person has access to high-quality teaching empowered by the opportunities mathematics affords; (3) to build a growing consensus on to positively influence decision-makers and the public on what high-quality mathematics instruction and learning can be; and (4) to build community, access and increased avenues for resources and counsel within the mathematics education Colorado community. Why I Want to Serve: To be a representative voice in how CCTM continues to evolve is both exciting and an honor. The best, most honed work comes from collaboration. My goal and hope as VP is to be a person who can aid and propel the development and communication of ideas and initiatives that advance student and teacher learning in mathematics across our state. With time and consistency comes trust... I hope and expect of myself to build trust with my fellow board members and educators, and in doing so: build and contribute to a team (where we all are leaders and listeners and respect one another for it) that in turn brings a sense of equity and advocacy, research-based ideas, instructional practices and resources to our group members and those we see to recruit. The larger the brain-pool... the more we all benefit and learn. The role of serving as Vice President is indeed that: serving. No other one word describes my mindset towards this opportunity and adventure. Candidates for SecretaryLinda Donaldson![]() Current: Teacher/Math Coach, Center School District Background: I have been working as a Middle School math teacher for the past 23 years. I have taught everything from elementary math to Algebra 2 at the high school. The majority of my time has been teaching math in grade 6 through grade 8. I have been the math coach for the middle school and high school for the past 6 years. I was awarded the CCTM Math Leadership Award in 2019. I was awarded the Center School District Teacher of the Year in 2013. Outside of my teaching duties, I am also the Center Education Association President, a position that I have held for the past 15 years. I am also a member of the Center Curriculum Leadership team which supports teachers in implementing the curriculum within their classrooms. About CCTM’s Role: The role of CCTM is finding ways to network with all math teachers in the state, as well as provide support and guidance to math teachers. It also provides a way for teachers to get professional development around mathematical content. Why I Want to Serve: I want to continue to contribute support to other teachers across the state. As I continue to grow professionally, I see myself wanting to be a part of the larger math teacher community rather than just my classroom or my school district. I was recently appointed to the Colorado Commissioner of Education Teacher Cabinet where I work with other educators from around the state as well as the Colorado Education Commissioner. I love the work that we do collectively as a group and want to have more of those opportunities to work with other wonderful educators across the state. Candidates for NCTM RepresentativeKatherine Beeler
Background: I have been teaching fifth grade in Clifton CO for the past four years and was a support person for 2nd grade before that. It was when I started teaching fifth grade that I truly found my passion for teaching mathematics. I have spent the past four years learning everything possible to expand my knowledge of teaching mathematics and working to find new and creative ways to get students and adults to fall in love with math. Luckily I have a number of math coaches and mentors to collaborate with and lean on to ensure I am always learning and refining. I am currently a part of the Colorado Math Leaders and am working this next year towards being fully trained in the initial programs provided by the US Math Recovery Council. About CCTM’s Role: I believe the biggest role that CCTM plays within the state of Colorado is to facilitate opportunities for math educators to collaborate with other educators across the state. I found that my first experiences with CCTM provided me the opportunity to discuss and collaborate about innovative ideas and thinking with people I wouldn't normally have the chance to sit and learn with coming from the Western Slope. I believe CCTM also plays a huge role in supporting teachers around the state. In everything it provides, whether it is the yearly conference or working to connect teachers to its other affiliate organizations the council provides many facets of support for teachers. Why I Want to Serve: I would like to serve on the CCTM board because I have been able to firsthand experience some of the great things CCTM has produced. I first heard about CCTM through a colleague who encouraged me to attend the conference and I was able to not only learn and implement some great things in my own classroom but I was able to collaborate with people from all over Colorado. I feel I would be able to bring a great perspective and knowledge to the board that would help further the great things that CCTM is already doing as well as helping to create new and innovative ways to reach more mathematicians in Colorado. Dennis DeBay
Background: I have been a Clinical Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education in Colorado for 5 years with a total of 8 years in Higher Education. Through this work, I have had the opportunity to work with students and inservice teachers from PreK-16, pre-service educators and looking at informal math learning. I have had the wonderful experience of being a founding member of the Data to Policy Project on our campus that involves undergraduate students thinking of ways that can use public data for public good - using data to explore social issues like policing and gentrification in Colorado. What I appreciate about this work, is that it allows students to use math in an interdisciplinary approach through our School of Education, Department of Mathematics, Library, School of Public Affairs, and other units throughout the university. My interests are around student reasoning in mathematics and an equitable approach to learning math. Prior to my work in Higher Education, I was a high school Mathematics and Computer Science Teacher for about a decade. About CCTM’s Role: What I appreciate about CCTM is that it is a community, a social aspect of thinking about learning and teaching in mathematics. I look at students learning mathematics as a way to dig into 'play'. Play is social, you can take risks, you can share ideas. I believe this epitomizes what CCTM can be for the state of Colorado. Why I Want to Serve: To be part of the community and conversation during unprecedented times. After this semester of online 'panic-gogy' the world of education (and specifically mathematics education) will be changing in Colorado and beyond. I want to engage with you all and be part of the conversation so that I can help support students, teachers, faculty as we think through how best to move forward. I want to give back and this is the group I am excited to be a part of to join in on this work. Jocelyn Hatfield
Background: I was in the classroom for 16 years teaching Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Precalculus at the high school level. I led the Algebra 1 and Geometry collaborative teams for about 10 of those years. 3 years ago I changed to my current role of District Secondary Math Coordinator. I have the privilege of working with middle school and high school math coordinators from across our district as well as supporting teachers and administrators to make the best decisions to support math learning for all our students. About CCTM’s Role: CCTM is an organization that is constantly responding to the needs of Math teachers across our state so that we can be our best for students. It is a way to bring teachers together in collective learning to push toward equitable practices for all students in all classes. Why I Want to Serve: I believe the CCTM is an important organization for Math Teachers across our state. I would like to be a part of the board as we work to respond to the ever-changing needs. Mark Koester
Background: I have been involved with mathematics education for more than thirty years. I have been a middle school and high school math teacher in New York City and Jeffco, Colorado, a school math administrator in Rochester, NY, a math teacher leader in Aurora Public Schools, and a district director of mathematics in Denver. Currently, for the last ten years, I have been an MSU Denver associate professor working with preservice elementary and secondary mathematics teachers. This school year I have taken a sabbatical to work with my graduates as they began full-time secondary mathematics teaching. I have presented annually at CCTM since 2011; several times with my preservice teachers co-presenting. About CCTM’s Role: As the leading professional organization for all teachers of mathematics in Colorado, CCTM's role is to support the effective teaching of mathematics for all students through the sharing of best practices, offering opportunities for teachers to develop their teaching practices, providing opportunities to network with others and advocating for teachers and their students on issues that make a difference in their lives. Why I Want to Serve: I want to serve on the CCTM board because I want to support the effective teaching and learning of mathematics in Colorado. There has never been a more important time to support teachers in this work. As the NCTM representative, I want to introduce and connect teachers to their vast resources. Through my current university work, I want to expand CCTM membership through communication to preservice teachers, newly licensed teachers, and the secondary mathematics mentors that provide our preservice teachers with opportunities in their classrooms to learn effective teaching and equity practices. Megan Korponic
Background: I have had the wonderful opportunity to serve in both Poudre School District and Denver Public Schools. During my time I have spent eight years in the classroom teaching 6th through 12th-grade students, served as a coach and department chair. In addition, I was a PK-12 Mathematics Curriculum Facilitator focusing on the spectrum of learning and vertical articulation. In my role in Denver Public Schools, I now serve as a High School Mathematics Curriculum Specialist supporting teachers and leaders. In addition to my district-focused background I have also had the opportunity to serve for one year as the President-Elect for Colorado Math Leaders and will be stepping into the role of President for the 2020-2021 school year. Finally, it has been a great pleasure to be able to become a Department Editor for NCTM's Mathematics Teacher Learning & Teaching publication, writing and editing problems in the Problems to Ponder department. About CCTM’s Role: I believe that CCTM serves as an organization to unite mathematics educators and leaders in the state of Colorado. CCTM is a grounding organization to bring together teachers as a collective of knowledge, support for one another, and diverse body of educators building the future of mathematics for students. Part of the role of the organization is to support educators but also to support educators stepping into leadership roles to share the wealth of knowledge and practice for all students in Colorado to be successful. Why I Want to Serve: I believe in the amazing educators we have in the state of Colorado. I also believe that we are all hungry for learning and taking the next step to support our students in the continued story of perseverance and success with mathematics. I believe that it is critical to both tap into our local resources and bridge the gaps between states and national supports and information. I want to serve in the role of NCTM Representative to be the bridge between teachers in Colorado and our national organization, making connections between our amazing educators and our national organization. Cory Montreuil
Background: I have taught everything from 6th-12th grade math. I have been on district assessment teams, curriculum teams and have been a CCTM and NCTM member for 8 years. About CCTM’s Role: CCTM should provide resources to better ourselves as teachers and entry points to shift/ inform how we should be teaching and supporting mathematics. Why I Want to Serve: I believe I have worked with a variety of teachers in a variety of schools with a variety of socioeconomic statuses and would love to bring that filter to the board. Michelle Morgan
Background: Early in my career, I taught junior and senior high school mathematics for five years in rural Northern Minnesota. I really enjoyed this time of my career because I was able to develop my teaching practice from very teacher-driven instruction to increasingly more student-centered instruction. While I loved teaching, I felt the push to continue my education and shift gears towards preparing future teachers. After recently graduating from the University of Northern Colorado with my doctorate, I now work to teach and pass along my experiences to prepare future elementary and secondary teachers. About CCTM’s Role: In my opinion, CCTM serves to support mathematics teachers as they work to provide their students with high-quality mathematics educational experiences. This support includes professional development opportunities, resources, and opportunities for collaboration. As an affiliate with NCTM, CCTM works to provide similar support, but with a specific and important focus on local, Colorado issues. Why I Want to Serve: NCTM and CCTM supported me as I entered my teaching career and, now, as I work to support future teachers in developing their own teaching practices. Serving on the CCTM Board would allow me an opportunity to give back to these organization through my service. In addition, it allows me one more opportunity for support the development and continued development of high quality mathematics teachers. Candidates for Region 1 RepresentativeHadeel Abdel-Ghany
Background: I graduated from Colorado State University in December 2019 with a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics. During my undergraduate experience at CSU I gained 3 years of classroom experience through tutoring, volunteering in classrooms, working as an interventionist, and my practicum classes. I also spent a semester teaching middle school math at a charter school in Fort Collins. About CCTM’s Role: I think the role of CCTM in Colorado is to provide a support network across the state for math teachers. CCTM is a way to unite teachers across the entire state, providing advocacy and networking opportunities between different regions. As a new teacher, I have been connected to incredible educators through CCTM and I feel like it has made me a better educator. I also believe that CCTM is a central way of providing resources to teachers and making mathematics education more equitable to all students. Why I Want to Serve: I would like to serve on the CCTM Board because I would like to connect with other math professionals across the state as well as represent my region. I will be new to Littleton and Littleton Public Schools and want to engage in my community as much as I can and I believe that being on the board is a great way to do this. Chelsea Carstensen
Background: Appointed as the Math Department Chair (10+ years). Serve on district Teacher Leadership Cadre for middle school math teachers (7+ years). Middle School Math teacher for 17 years. Building Math Specialist and Coach (1 year). Current and former member of CCTM, NCTM, and MCTM (Montana). About CCTM’s Role: CCTM bridges the gap between math teachers and resources. CCTM supports and provides opportunities for teachers to access high quality professional development, build connections, and collaborate with dynamic Math teachers. Members can access professional reading, conferences, and groups/associations related to teaching and learning Mathematics. Why I Want to Serve: I would like to continue to serve on the CCTM Board as Region 1 Representative, because I have learned so much in my short year of fulfilling the former Region 1 Representative's term. I have enjoyed meeting and connecting with Math leaders and teachers across the state, and nationally. I would like to continue to serve as a liaison for my region and school district, while learning about resources and services for Math teachers and leaders. Thank you for considering my application. Shannon Wood-Rothenberg
Background: I spent 10 years as an architectural project manager before transitioning to teaching through the Denver Teaching Fellows program in 2010. I love Bach concerti, solving algebra problems for fun, fostering dogs, all things Viking, and no-foam lattes. About CCTM’s Role: CCTM fosters a sense of community in Colorado's math educators and provides opportunities for us to grow professionally while staying local. Why I Want to Serve: I am always looking for ways to grow my own impact as an educator while networking, learning from others, and helping to spread the joy of math! Candidates for Region 4 RepresentativeKatie McGowan
Background: I am teaching third grade this year but taught fifth grade at my current school for three years and second grade on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming prior to that. While in Wyoming, I completed a two-year training from the First People's Center for Education called Strength in Number -- a small group model for Math Recovery. While completing the Strength in Number training, I truly began to understand the importance of number sense and mathematical reasoning for elementary students. I also realized just how many adults struggle through math tasks because they lack these essential understandings and reasoning abilities. The foundational skills that are developed early on truly affect all other mathematical pathways students will engage in as they move through their schooling. As an elementary school teacher, I understand that I am building the foundation for students to interact with mathematics for the rest of their lives. About CCTM’s Role: The role of CCTM in Colorado is to create a space for collaboration across the state to ensure that Colorado students are receiving the best possible mathematics education. The yearly conference allows teachers to engage in best practices for teaching as well as understand current issues and shifts in mathematical pedagogy. It supports teachers in their efforts to expand their knowledge of best practices by providing many opportunities for professional development. Why I Want to Serve: I would be honored to serve on the CCTM board to have the opportunity to work with professionals in a larger capacity than just elementary education. I truly believe that vertical alignment and equity are essential to ensure that students receive the best education possible, and this opportunity would allow me to be an advocate for students beyond my school or district. Elissa Pitts
Background: I was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado and now live in the house I grew up in and teach at the high school where I was a student. I have been teaching at Poudre High School for 22 years, and I have been the Math Department leader there for 8 years. I have taught a wide range of courses from entry-level courses up through Calculus III. I currently teach Algebraic Concepts, AP Calculus BC, and Calculus III. A long, long time ago, I earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the Colorado School of Mines. I then earned my master’s degree in mathematics from Colorado State University where I also did my coursework for teacher licensure and principal licensure. I was part of the first cohort in the Math Teacher Leadership Program at the University of Northern Colorado. I became Nationally Board Certified in Adolescence and Young Adulthood Mathematics in 2017. About CCTM’s Role: I believe the role of CCTM is to provide teachers with an avenue to connect with other teachers throughout the state of Colorado, support teachers in professional development, assist teachers in remaining current with research in mathematics education, and recognize excellent mathematics teaching practices. Why I Want to Serve: I am passionate about quality mathematics education for both students and teachers and would like to be able to support teachers who are looking to improve their practices. I enjoy learning about new teaching techniques and resources and love experimenting with them in my classroom. I enjoy learning about what is happening outside of my district, and I am intrigued by the work of CCTM. I have pursued leadership opportunities at my school and in my district, but I have not done much outside of my district and feel like this is a way to contribute at the state level. Candidates for Region 7 RepresentativeMichael Brom
Background: Of my 28 years in education my experience includes 21 years of teaching secondary mathematics with 10 years at the middle school level and 11 years at the high school level. I am currently in year seven of doing data/curriculum/assessment coordinator level work. I have served on the Colorado Academic Standards Mathematics committee during the past two standards revisions (2009/2010 co-chair and 2020) and participate in CMAS Content Item Bias and Review, Rangefinding, and Item-Writing opportunities as often as possible. Prior to arriving in Colorado in 2008, I had served on the Kansas Mathematics Standards committee and was a zone coordinator for the Kansas Association of Teachers of Mathematics (KATM) as well. About CCTM’s Role: I feel that CCTM's role is threefold: (a) to lead, engage, and empower Colorado educators with regard to best practices in mathematics and the latest research in math education, (b) create and facilitate collaborative opportunities to learn from and share resources with one another, and (c) to serve in an advocacy capacity for all Colorado students and educators in the area of mathematics education. Why I Want to Serve: Serving in a leadership capacity on the CCTM Board would be an honor and a privilege. I feel that the various roles and experiences I have had as a teacher, coordinator, and participant on numerous state-level committees would be an asset to the CCTM organization. This position would be a prime opportunity to serve and support fellow math educators throughout the state of Colorado, as well as share some of the math, standards, and assessment resources that I have created for math colleagues in my own school district. Felicia Westland
Background: I have been a middle school math educator for 20 years. I've taught mostly 6th and 8th grade. In my years of teaching I have been involved with all aspects of my community; from Educator Liaison, National Junior Honor Society, Mentor, Professional Learning Community Lead, Math Department Chairperson and Coach. I've always been involved in my building and at the district level in the difficult discussions around curriculum alignment, strategies, pacing and best practices to meet the needs of all learners to achieve high academic success. About CCTM’s Role: CCTM is an organization which provides mathematics professionals a place to hone their skills, showcase best practices, and collaborate with other math educators. It is a solid resource base and a representative of what teachers need from the state legislature to be most effective. Why I Want to Serve: I enjoy supporting educators; especially math educators. There is always a need for up to date information, recognition, collaboration and relevant resources. Serving on the CCTM board would allow me to contribute to a platform that connects people to the aforementioned. It is a professional platform that recognizes that teaching is a tough job and teamwork is crucial. |