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Looking to the Future

Looking to the Future. Finding the next generation of mathematicians, scientists, and engineers John Ewing AMS / MfA. Why am I here?. Reason #1: AMS executive director AMS represents 32,000 research mathematicians (35% international) Aging population; same in science & engineering

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Looking to the Future

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  1. Looking to the Future Finding the next generation of mathematicians, scientists, and engineers John Ewing AMS / MfA

  2. Why am I here? • Reason #1: • AMS executive director • AMS represents 32,000 research mathematicians • (35% international) • Aging population; same in science & engineering • We need to think about the next generation! Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

  3. Why am I here? • Reason #2 • Three men rent a room … • Mathematician… and teacher • Changes over 25 years, dramatic • We need to make certain people can think (mathematically) ⇨We need to think about the future Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

  4. Education • Huge system, many parts • In US, public schools • hundreds of billions of dollars, • 3.5 million teachers, … • Many parts, all need attention… • Textbooks, Curriculum, Standards, Teachers, … Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

  5. Systemic Solutions • How do we fix problems? • “Must be systemic ” • Can’t fix one part without fixing all • “Must be logical” • Start at the beginning; standards • Hopeless! "Never try to solve all the problems at once — make them line up for you one-by-one.” — Richard Sloma Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

  6. Math for America • Inspiration of Jim Simons (mathematics & finance) • Here’s the way to solve problems (in business) • Find “pressure points” (leverage change) • Set priorities • Proceed one step at a time • Begin by focusing on one thing …. what??? Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

  7. Teachers … secondary school (9-12) Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

  8. Why Teachers? • Many studies show teachers are the most important factor in improving achievement • Nearly half math teachers have left after 5 years. • Large numbers “not well prepared” • Common experience of mathematicians and scientists: Remember inspiring teachers! • Practical – agree on need for good teachers Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

  9. What is MfA? …a nonprofit organization with a mission to improve math education in secondary public schools in the United States by recruiting, training, and retaining outstanding mathematics teachers. Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

  10. SKIPS • Five key ingredients: • Screen to find young people who know and love mathematics (test/interview) • Give them teaching knowledge (Master’s) • Give financial incentives (~$20,000/yr for 5 years) • Give them prestige (publicity) • Give them support (community building) Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

  11. Screening • Key to success (fewer than half accepted) • Use standard tests (Praxis), but … • “Know and love” mathematics Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

  12. Financial Incentives • Annual awards can vary, but about $20K • Think of as PRIZE – not “stipends” • $100K prize is an effective recruitment tool for any profession! Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

  13. Support • “Professional development” • More … building a community of fellows • Master teachers included • Social events Master teacher program $60,000 over 4 years Prestige Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

  14. Expanding • New York (150 + 50) [year 5] • Los Angeles [year 2] • San Diego [year 2] • Washington, DC [year 1] • Others in planning stages … • More flexible (in future) Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

  15. Some Obstacles • Expensive: ~$150K per fellow • Spread over 3-4000 students in career • Teacher unions (not hard) • Competing jobs (finance industry) Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

  16. Harder • Education professionals: • MfA too simplistic, naïve • Logical thinkers: • need to solve primary education first, secondary later • Government officials: • need to rescue those at the bottom first (failing teachers) Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

  17. Looking to the future A journey of a thousand miles … … begins with a single step • Goal? • 20% of secondary mathematics/science teachers • Big! ~1.500.000.000 € per year • Teachers only “first step” • … and many other problems Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

  18. MfA wants to create teachers who can solve them! TOUGH PROBLEM! "The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it is the same problem you had last year." — John Foster DullesStatesman Santiago de Compostela Roundtable

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