Deborah Loewenberg Ball, University of Michigan

Deborah Ball was chosen for the award this year based on the outstanding work she is doing for mathematics education in the state, as well as the nation. As a member of President Bush's National Mathematics Advisory Panel, Deborah contributed to the finished report on "...ways to foster greater knowledge of and improved performance in mathematics among American students...with respect to the conduct, evaluation and effective use of the results of research relating to proven-effective and evidence-based mathematics instruction. She worked with the National Panel to develop recommendations "...based on the best available scientific evidence." In addition to her work with the Panel as a whole, she was also the chair of the Task Group on Teachers and Teacher Education, an area she continues to contribute to in her work at University of Michigan.
Deborah Loewenberg Ball is Dean of the School of Education and William H. Payne Collegiate Professor at the University of Michigan. Ball's work draws on her many years of experience as an elementary classroom teacher. Her research focuses on mathematics instruction, and on interventions designed to improve its quality and effectiveness. Her research groups study the nature of the mathematical knowledge needed for teaching and develop survey measures that make possible analyses of the relations among teachers' mathematical knowledge; the quality of their teaching; and their students' performance. She is also an expert on teacher education, with a particular interest in how professional training and experience combine to equip teachers with the skills and knowledge needed for effective practice. Dr. Ball was a principal investigator on the Study of Instructional Improvement, a large longitudinal study of efforts to improve instruction in reading and mathematics in high-poverty urban elementary schools.

Ball is also co-director of the Center for Proficiency in Teaching Mathematics, a research and development center aimed at strengthening professional education of mathematics teachers. Ball has authored or co-authored over 150 publications and has lectured and made numerous major presentations around the world. Her website is heavily used by scholars, policymakers, and practitioners. Her research has been recognized with several awards and honors, and she has served on several national and international commissions and panels focused on policy initiatives and the improvement of education. Ball currently serves on President Bush's National Mathematics Advisory Panel.

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