Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics
3300 Washtenaw Avenue
Suite 220
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104-4200
Phone: 734-477-0421
Fax: 734-677-2407
E-mail: alecia@ucia2.com
MCTM Regional Director's Award
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Download the MCTM Regional Director's Award Nomination form (Word file)
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2007 Award Winners
Region 1 Director's AwardeeKevin Dykema
Kevin Dykema is a full time eighth grade teacher at Mattawan School District and is a member of MCTM and MMLA. He was a Keynote Speaker at the 2006 MCTM Conference as well as facilitating many sessions at the annual conference for the last 4 years. He was a featured speaker at the 2006 DACTM Annual Conference and offered a variety of math sessions during the event. Last year he presented at the Indiana and Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics conferences. Kevin's instruction also includes Methods Courses in Mathematics at Western Michigan University in 2004-2006. Kevin has partnered with the Michigan Math and Science Centers and Regional Educational Centers in the state to provide professional development workshops to hundreds of mathematics teachers. Some of these sessions include Algeblocks, MEAP toolkits, and activities to help teach the GLCE's. He actively supports educators in their commitment to captivate learners, and generate positive results with the use of effective hands-on teaching strategies.
Region 2 Director's AwardeeJocelyn Menyhart
Jocelyn Menyhart, a retired teacher and a former mathematics consultant in Tecumseh Public Schools, is currently contracted to the Lenawee ISD and the HLM Math and Science Center. She has led, facilitated and planned professional development to assist teachers in not only becoming familiar with the GLCE's, but to experience the kind of learning they need to promote in their classroom. These sessions are never "sit and get", but are designed to get educators actively engaged in the content. When arranging professional development, she ensures that the presenters have not just content knowledge, but can also model good teaching and leaning practices and incorporate technology. Jocelyn hosts collegial dialogue sessions where teachers can share good teaching strategies and practices. She is able to convey ideas and to disagree with colleagues in a pleasant and friendly way which promotes ongoing dialog.
Region 4 Director's AwardeeMarie Lusk
Marie Lusk, department head of Forest Hills Eastern High School, has presented at local, state, and national conferences on various topics, such as Graphing Calculators, Geometer's Sketchpad, Fathom, and Lesson Study. She has worked with a team of area educators to perform a gap analysis on the MEAP scores of Forest Hills and has been active in helping to develop an item bank for the GLCE's and a clarification document for the HSCE's. Her involvement in the math community is illustrated by her participation in MMLA, the Park City Math Institute, GLIMmers, Math in Action, and MCTM. She loves teaching and the students that she teaches. She spends many hours outside of the school coaching girl's basketball and working at different athletic events so that her students see her "outside" of the classroom. Marie works with university professors, fellow teachers and future teachers to improve the quality of math education. Her expertise, enthusiasm, and dedication are apparent to these individuals, as well as her students.
Region 9 Director's AwardeeDr. Terry E. Parks
Dr. Terry E. Parks, an educator for 45 years, has been in his current position as the St. Clair County RESA Math and Science Center Director since 1994. He has developed and initiated a number of highly-acclaimed math and science programs in St. Clair County that have laid the groundwork for improved learning and teaching in St. Clair County and across Michigan. In May of 2006, he was awarded the Dorothy Beardmore Service to Education Award from the Michigan Department of Education because of his dedication to improving the quality of education for all Michigan students. His dedication to MCTM and mathematics takes on many forms, one of which is his leadership in the Michigan Mathematics Leadership Association's Task Force. It is his patience and organization that allows the task force to continually present high level professional development to mathematics educators across the state. Dr. Parks is a member of MCTM, NCTM, the National Science Teachers Association, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the Michigan Science Teachers Association.
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MCTM 2006 Regional Diretor's Awardees
MCTM Region 1 Director's Awardee
Peg Becker, Kalamazoo Central High School
Peg has been instrumental in helping the district integrate technology, particularly the TI Navigator, into the district's mathematics curriculum, and has become an avid proponent of technology. She has led several TI Navigator sessions and in the last year, she has seized the opportunity to receive fast-tracked training from Texas Instruments that has further increased her repertoire of presentations she leads throughout the mathematics community.
Those who know Peg, know her passion for music. She has used this personal interest extensively in a Mathematical Modeling course and has created several stand-alone activities that integrate technology and music. She strives to help students see interesting and relevant applications of mathematics.
Peg ponders, literally. She often builds on ideas and encourages conversation on developing ideas. She is a teacher that questions the status quo while being passionate about her students learning mathematics.
MCTM Region 4 Director's Awardee
Charlene Beckmann, Grand Valley State University
Professor of mathematics education at GVSU, Char is one of the strongest advocates of mathematics and education in Michigan. She supports the efforts of her colleagues at GVSU, Region 4, and the state and has been recognized for her contributions on a national level. Char co-authored "Teaching and Learning Middle Grades Mathematics" and has published other materials for middle school level teachers and educators. She is a frequent presenter at local, state, and national conferences and has been a strong supporter and leader of the Math in Action Conference held annually at GVSU. She has been active in many organizations, including MCTM, in which she served as President in 2003. Dr. Beckman strives to help her students be self-motivated learners both inside and outside of the classroom and works to prepare future teachers to be successful and inspiring educators.
MCTM Region 6 Director's Awardee
Laurie Shappee, Larson Middle School, Troy Public Schools As the Mathematics Department Head for Larson Middle School, Laurie has been instrumental in creating exit exams for their Algebra and Geometry courses, implementing common assessments, and summer review packets that are shared with all Troy Middle Schools. Recently she was appointed as the Mathematics Supervisor for Troy Public Schools. Laurie has had an active roll in the development of the Sum MoreMath Program and has been involved in MCTM, acting as Middle School Vice President, 2006 Co-Conference Chair, and helping with the Silent Auction. Some of her other activities include serving on the School Improvement Steering Committee, coaching the Math Club MATHCOUNTS Team, and the Future Problem Solving Team. She has been awarded grants from Troy Foundation for Education Excellence and from the Innovative Grant Program Troy Tomorrow.
Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 3300 Washtenaw Avenue, Suite 220,
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104-4200, Phone: 734.477.0421, Fax: 734.677.2270, E-mail: alecia@ucia2.com