56th Annual Conference- Pre-Conference

2024 PRE-CONFERENCE SESSIONS

Pre-conference sessions held Sunday, September 22, 2024

Enhance your NCSM conference learning experience by signing up to attend one of our special Sunday afternoon pre-conference sessions for leaders aligned to the conference theme and strands.

These pre-conference sessions are a great way to kick off your conference experience, network with other leaders and take a deeper dive into our recent work and Essential Actions Series from NCSM.

Workshop 1: Breaking Barriers: Bold Leadership for High-Quality, Equitable Mathematics Teaching and Learning

Bold mathematics leaders advocate for high-quality, equitable mathematics teaching and learning (NCSM, 2020). This begins by creating a shared vision for what each and every student will experience and learn in mathematics. When teachers are given time to collaboratively plan and reflect on classroom practice, student performance improves (NCSM, 2007). During the pre-conference session, participants will examine the practices, processes, and actions necessary to lead effective and equitable mathematics programs. Questions we will address:

• Disrupting the Status Quo: How do we structure our work as bold mathematics leaders to implement practices that have led to greater student outcomes?
• Eliminating Barriers: What actions can we take as culturally relevant leaders to ensure teachers have a deep understanding of mathematics standards and teaching and learning, to ensure equitable student outcomes?
• Overcoming Challenges: How can culturally relevant leaders ensure each and every student has access to grade level content and intensification based on evidence of student learning?

Sunday, September 22, 2024, 1:00-4:00 pm
Presented by: Dr. Erin Lehmann, NCSM Professional Learning Director and Cory A. Bennett, NCSM Positions Paper Editor

Dr. Erin Lehmann, is an Assistant Professor and Superintendent Program Coordinator of Educational Leadership in the School of Education at the University of South Dakota. In this role, she has spent the last four years leading instructional improvement in the areas of leadership, teaching, and student learning. Before working in higher education, she spent more than 20 years in public education as an elementary teacher, mathematics teacher, mathematics coach, curriculum specialist, and principal. She has authored, Teaching Mathematics Today 2nd ed., co-authored, Instructional Leadership in Mathematics Education, as well as numerous articles. She served as NCSM’s Journal of Mathematics Educational Leadership (JMEL) Editor from 2019-2022 and is currently the Professional Learning Director with NCSM. She has been very fortunate to have worked with people who were always passionate about mathematics as well as leadership. There is a sense of mathematical unitedness when educators are working towards doing what is right for students.

Cory A. Bennett is a Professor of Mathematics Education and Chair of the Department of Teaching and Educational Studies at Idaho State University. His professional work centers on leveraging mathematical discourse, creating classroom cultures of reasoning, aligning curricula to quality assessment and instructional practices, and developing instructional leaders’ praxis. He works with educators and educational leaders, both locally and globally, to advance understandings in the teaching and learning of mathematics and to support instructional leaders’ capacity to create quality, learning-centered structures.

Note: Registration is required for this pre-conference half-day workshop. Online registration is now open.

Workshop 2: Breaking Through Barriers: Coaching as a Lever for Supporting Change

Bold mathematics leaders leverage coaching as a vehicle for breaking through barriers. Coaching is recognized as one of the most powerful ways to ensure equity, build teacher capacity and increase student learning outcomes. During this pre-conference session, we will explore frameworks for teacher learning, unpack tools and strategies to support teacher teams and engage in coaching experiences to develop our skills.

Leaders and coaches will examine the following essential questions:

• How do we support mathematics teachers in redesigning classroom instruction which supports all learners?
• What actions can we take to build a coaching culture of reflection, refinement, and action?
• How can we apply research-informed coaching practices to support effective teaching practices?

Sunday, September 22, 2024, 1:00-4:00 pm
Presented by: Dr. Nicora Placa, NCSM Coaching Coordinator

Nicora Placa, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in Curriculum and Teaching at Hunter College which is part of the City University of New York (CUNY). In her 20 years in education, she has served in a variety of roles including elementary school teacher, middle school mathematics teacher, and mathematics coach. She continues to work with schools and districts to provide collaborative coaching and professional learning support. She has authored 6 Tools for Collaborative Mathematics Coaching, as well as numerous articles. Nicora is beginning her first year as NCSM Coaching Coordinator. She is constantly learning from the teacher teams she works with and is inspired by them to find new ways to create opportunities for all students to learn and love math.

Note: Registration is required for this pre-conference half-day workshop. Online registration is now open.

Workshop 3: Cultivating Mathematics Educator Wellness for Leading a Thriving Life!

In an educational landscape marked by increasing demands and stress, the well-being of mathematics educators directly impacts student success and teacher retention (Heller, 2020). This session is an immersive experience designed to equip PreK-16 mathematics education leaders with the tools, strategies, and routines needed to prioritize their well-being, as well as the well-being routines of those they lead.

During this Pre-conference session participants will:

• Gain insight into a research-affirmed educator wellness framework and self-reliction progress tools.
• Learn simple yet powerful routines, strategies, and invitations that can be implemented immediately to support the physical, mental and emotional health of all mathematics educators.
• Be inspired, motivated, and rejuvenated in their personal wellness journey.

Sunday, September 22, 2024, 1:00-4:00 pm
Presented by Dr. Timothy D. Kanold, Past-President, NCSM

Dr. Timothy D. Kanold is an educator, husband, father, friend, runner, and author. He served as a mathematics teacher, as the Director of Mathematics and Science, Principal, and as school district Superintendent at Stevenson HSD 125 in Lincolnshire, Illinois. His best-selling books HEART! (2017) and SOUL! (2021) have been followed by his 2022 book, Educator Wellness: A Guide for Sustaining Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Social Well-Being. Kanold received the international 2010 Damen Award for outstanding contributions to education from Loyola University Chicago and was President of NCSM from 2007-2009. He lives in Northern California with his wife Susan and their Golden Retriever, Fibonacci.

Note: Registration is required for this pre-conference half-day workshop. Online registration is now open.

Other Special Pre-Conference Sessions

First-Time Attendee Orientation

This session is for new NCSM annual conference attendees. Participants will network with other first-time attendees, explore conference offerings, and develop a personal agenda. There will also be an opportunity to learn about members’ benefits, vendors, and the regions NCSM serves. You might even meet your Regional Director!

Sunday, September 22, 2024, 3:00-4:00 pm
Presented by: Candies Winfun-Cook, NCSM Membership and Volunteer Coordinator

Nicole Stommel, Regional Director – Central 1

Note: This session is free for conference attendees. Registration is not required to attend this session.

Breaking Barriers to Effective Affiliate Leadership

Leading is challenging. Leading an affiliate as a volunteer is a next level of challenging! In this session, you will engage with resources designed especially to support your work as an affiliate leader on the topics you care most about. Additionally, you will have the chance to network with and learn from other affiliate leaders and potential affiliate leaders on the issues that matter most to you and your affiliate.

Sunday, September 22, 2024, 1:00-4:00 pm
Presented by: Joanie Funderburk, NCSM Affiliates Coordinator and Sean Nank, NCSM Regional Director, Western 2

Joanie Funderburk
NCSM Affiliates Coordianator

Joanie Funderburk is the NCSM Affiliates Coordinator for 2023-2025. In her day job, she serves as the Strategic Alliance Director for Texas Instruments’ Educational Technology division. In this role, she advocates for high-quality STEM education by elevating the voices of educators in policy decisions at the state and national level. Joanie has nearly 20 years of experience teaching high school math and 7 years supporting middle and high school math teachers at the district level. She spent 5 years working for national non-profit organizations supporting math professional learning all over the country before settling into her role at TI. Joanie served on the Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics for 12 years, including six years as President, and recently chaired NCTM’s Membership and Affiliate Relations Committee. Joanie enjoys the chance to share what she’s learned in her 33 years in math education as the co-host of Room to Grow: A Math Podcast. Joanie lives in Colorado with her husband and dog and enjoys visiting Seattle and Austin where her two sons live with their wives.

Sean Nank
NCSM Regional Director, Western 2

Sean Nank, PhD is a PAEMST recipient, professor, consultant, author, teacher, and facilitator. He periodically works for multiple state and federal agencies including the US Department of Education, and National Science Foundation. Sean was an NCTM MARC representative, an NCSM journal editor, and is an elected Board member for NCSM as the Regional Director for Western 2. Sean was appointed to represent the USA at ICME12. He is the two term past-president of the Greater San Diego Mathematics Council. His current research includes creating equitable space for ALL student voices while integrating students’ passions into K-12 classrooms via empathetic storytelling, technology, curricula, and Adaptive Instructional Routines. Sean has numerous publications including four books and has presented at local, regional, state, national, and international conferences over 100 times. He is humbled at the impact his ShadowCon presentation inspires. Sean is a Solution Tree Associate, Facilitated for Illustrative Mathematics, has been a curriculum and professional development writer and a facilitator for multiple corporations including Amplify, LearnZillion, and Imagine Learning, and continues to privately consult. For further information, visit the NCSM website and Sean’s RD page.

Note: Registration is required for this pre-conference half-day workshop. Online registration is now open.