星空传媒

This September, two 星空传媒 professors were invited by the American Institute of Mathematics to share how they鈥檝e grown and sustained a statewide professional network with fellow mathematics educators.

Sloan Despeaux, mathematics program director, and Nathan Borchelt, mathematics education program director, founded the North Carolina Network of Math Teachers鈥� Circles 13 years ago to forge new relationships with their colleagues and share knowledge through problem-solving and discussion.

Groups meet five to six times a year to collaborate among themselves and, on occasion, come together to host larger regional events.

鈥淎fter receiving the Provost鈥檚 Development Grant for our first camp in 2015, we asked for a small grant from the NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation to continue. They declined to give us a small grant, but instead offered us a much bigger one if we could replicate what we were doing across the state,鈥� Despeaux said.

Thanks to the efforts of Despeaux and Borchelt, the NCNMTC currently consists of 11 regional chapters: Smoky Mountain, High Country, Blue Ridge, Thermal Belt, Charlotte, Triad, Traingle, 360 Degree, Wilmington, Sandhills and East Carolina.

Despeaux shared how these meetings have allowed 星空传媒 faculty as well as preservice teachers, like 星空传媒鈥檚 Noyce Scholars, to take on leadership roles within the circles.

In recognition of their networking success, AIM invited Despeaux and Borchelt to organize and facilitate a national workshop called 鈥淒eveloping Regional Networks of Math Teachers鈥� Circles鈥� last month at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California.

The two 星空传媒 professors鈥� workshop activities included hands-on MTC sessions, information-sharing sessions focused on the nuts and bolts of regional MTCs, including vision and activities, recruitment, funding and sustainability, and networking sessions, Borchelt said.

鈥淭eams from seven states attended (Arizona, California, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin) and left the workshop with a 鈥榖usiness plan鈥� for their network, including actionable next steps,鈥� he explained.

Both professors expressed appreciation at the opportunity to give back to AIM, which they鈥檝e partnered with for over a decade, and the larger national MTC movement.

鈥淭he workshop was an incredible experience as participants worked tirelessly to share ideas and establish plans for developing networks in their own state. We plan to support and follow up with all of the teams during the next year through virtual office hours and shared resources,鈥� Borchelt said.

鈥淚n working with each of the teams, this also provided a chance for us to renew our efforts in seeking funding and continued strengthening of the NCNMTC.鈥�

Through their continued work with the NCNMTC, Despeaux and Borchelt have established a critical network that is sure to serve and encourage mathematics educators for years to come.