November 2025 Board Message
Message from the Board: What will your legacy be?This month our board message is by Megan Korponic-Tram, our NCTM Representative. In her message, Megan shares about the happenings at the most recent NCTM Annual Exposition that took place in Atlanta this past October. As a child I recall sitting in front of the television in awe that the Summer Olympics were being held in the United States. I felt a sense of pride and enthusiasm. In October, many CCTM members had the opportunity to walk among the giants from that Olympics and from other historical periods in which the city of Atlanta has played a role. Atlanta is known for being the birthplace for the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and the home of Coca-Cola. During October, whether you were taking in the sights from the top of the Ferris wheel, trying to catch a filming at Tyler Perry Studios, or enjoying some very fine soul food, there was more than the culture binding us to those nearby because in October Atlanta added another “known for” to their list: Mathematics Education. Standing upon the shoulders of those who walked this ground before us, our speakers connected to the past while celebrating a civil journey through mathematics that is increasingly providing access for all learners. In her opening session, Lateefah Id-Deen invited everyone to think about the legacy we leave through our work and to reimagine what is possible in mathematics education through content and connections. We were each asked to think about the impact of those before us, reflecting on the relationships and safe learning environments that have brought us to where we are today. In turn, it is imperative that students in our classrooms feel affirmed as we honor their thinking, and that joy and belonging become a part of students’ mathematical experiences. Lateefah Id-Deen left us with the questions “What are we really passing on to our students? What do our daily choices make possible for them and for us?” With a focus on purpose and legacy, presenters lifted up themes related to collective progress, recognizing brilliance in all learners, engaging with Artificial Intelligence, developing deep content knowledge, cross-curricular content connections, focusing on learning for those who may find mathematics challenging, and research and practice. I, personally, appreciated engaging in the bridge from research to practice as we dug into the work of the Joint Position Statement on Students with Disabilities between NCTM and CEC. The M. Carl Equity Address, presented by Dr. Robert Q. Berry, III, revealed the story of the evolution of mathematics education, highlighting the encouragement from many of today’s leaders to bring more of a focus on students’ humanity to classrooms. A special round of applause goes out to all of the teachers currently paving the way toward a better tomorrow. I am looking forward to next year’s NCTM Annual Meeting & Exposition as we welcome our colleagues near and far to Denver, Colorado! This will be an incredible opportunity to access some of the field’s finest innovators right here in our state. We are also looking forward to showcasing our local talent on this national stage. Get ready, Denver, NCTM is coming home!
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