NCTM Announces New Professional Development Scholarship  Emphasizing the History of Mathematics

Reston, Va., September 9, 2009–The Mathematics Education Trust (MET) of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) has announced a new scholarship—the Professional Development Scholarship Emphasizing the History of Mathematics for Grades 6–12 Teachers. The scholarship, supported by the Father Stanley J. Bezuszka Fund and NCTM, will award a maximum of $3,000 to an individual currently teaching mathematics in grades 6–12.

The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial support for completing credit-bearing course work in the history of mathematics, creating and field-testing appropriate classroom activities incorporating the history of mathematics, and preparing and delivering a professional development presentation related to the history of mathematics to colleagues. Proposals must include the following: identification of the accredited agency offering the course(s), a complete description of the course(s), an outline of the plan for field-testing the created activities, and details about the anticipated instructional improvements and the expected impact of the shared created activities on colleagues and student learning outcomes.

The applicant must be a current (as of April 15, 2010) Full Individual or E-Member of NCTM; have taught school mathematics for at least three years; and intend to remain in teaching for the foreseeable future. Teachers of grades 6–12 who satisfy all of these requirements and have previously taken a course in the history of mathematics are eligible to apply. No applicant may receive more than one award administered by the Mathematics Education Trust in the same academic year. All activities related to the award must be completed by August 31, 2012.

The Father Stanley J. Bezuszka Fund was established in May 2009 in honor of Father Stanley Bezuszka, whose strong, abiding interest in the history of mathematics was evident in his many publications and presentations. In From Heart and Mind: a Classroom Odyssey, Bezuszka wrote “The heritage, the tradition, the story of mathematics is a history of the human mind seeking to understand the mysteries of the universe and to find answers to the many wonders and many questions of men and women.” He routinely urged his students and teacher colleagues to learn about and from the mathematicians of the past. The new MET scholarship acknowledges and honors his efforts to promote understanding of the history of mathematics and encourage its use as a powerful teaching tool.

For over 30 years, the Mathematics Education Trust has been supporting the improvement of mathematics teaching and learning at the classroom level through the funding of grants, awards, honors, and other projects by channeling the generosity of contributors into classroom-based efforts that benefit all students. MET provides funds to support classroom teachers in improving classroom practices and increasing teachers’ mathematical knowledge.   

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is a public voice of mathematics education, providing vision, leadership, and professional development to support teachers in ensuring mathematics learning of the highest quality for all students. With more than 100,000 members and 230 Affiliates, NCTM is the world’s largest organization dedicated to improving mathematics education in prekindergarten through grade 12. The Council’s Principles and Standards for School Mathematics includes guidelines for excellence in mathematics education. Its Curriculum Focal Points for Prekindergarten through Grade 8 Mathematics: A Quest for Coherence, released in 2006, identifies the most important mathematical topics for each grade level.

The scholarship application packet must be postmarked by May7, 2010. Faxed copies are not accepted. For more information, visit www.nctm.org/met. 

Contact: Andrea Christie, Communications Assistant, (703) 620-9840 ex. 2198, achristie@nctm.org.