Sandi Cooper
Position Statement
Sandi Cooper earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics Education at
Texas A&M University in 1994 and is currently an Associate Professor of
Mathematics Education in the School of Education at Baylor University. She
teaches undergraduate courses in the elementary certification program and
graduate courses in mathematics education. The focus of her research is professional
development of teachers, learning mathematics through inquiry-based activities,
integrating technology into instruction, and online teaching and learning. Sandi
served as Project Director and Co-Director of several funded projects including
Eisenhower grants, a U.S. Department of Education Preparing TomorrowÕs Teachers
for Technology (PT3) grant, and the inaugural program for the Texas Regional
Collaboratives for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics. She has served on the AMTE
Program Committee for several annual
conferences, the AMTE Doctoral Program Information Task Force, and this
past year, served as AMTE Conference Program Chair. Currently, she is serving as Co-Executive Director for the School
Science and Mathematics Association and Co-Program Chair for the 2008 NCTM
Regional Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
As an AMTE board member-at-large, I will support the mission of AMTE to provide leadership, resources, and professional development and to promote research, collaboration, communication, and technology. With my background and experiences, I am prepared to specifically work to enhance teacher preparation programs, professional development, and the integration of technology. As a mathematics teacher educator, I have a special interest in preparing quality teachers who will promote systemic reform and will be dedicated to the profession. AMTE can play a vital role in the preparation of future teachers through their support of mathematics teacher educators. AMTE could provide this support to mathematics teacher educators in doctoral programs and throughout the early years in the profession. Through my experiences and research on professional development, I have gained insight into the importance of long-term and sustained professional development initiatives. These experiences will allow me to work with the leadership of AMTE to build a framework for promoting quality mathematics education.