Opening Session: Hidden Figures in Mathematics Education
  

Date: February 1, 2021, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm EST 

Description:  
The experiences of womxn in mathematics remain invisible and largely undiscussed. This invisibility produces obscurity to most teachers, and fails to transcend to students. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are approximately 56.6 million students enrolled in K-12 schools in the United States. Of this over 50% identify as girls of color. However, only 21% of teachers identify as womxn of color. There is a significant chance that girls of color will never encounter a womxn teacher of color. As demographic trends in education shift to reflect an increase in students of color, it is essential for educators to create diverse and inclusive spaces to provide all students with a high-quality, culturally relevant educational experience. So, how does a lack of representation of womxn of color in mathematics impact the experiences of girls of color? How can educators disrupt traditional narratives about who and what is valued in the field of mathematics?

The opening panel session will allow attendees to engage with outstanding womxn mathematics educators whose voices have been hidden within the field of education. They will share personal stories, mathematics content, and pedagogical strategies that educators can implement in their classrooms and school programs. The knowledge gained from this session will change the lens from which you view mathematics and shift your thinking about what has historically defined the field. Engagement in this session will help you to reimagine education and better understand how students must experience mathematics and come to see themselves as mathematicians.

Presenters:

Cicely Alexander Lubbock Partnership Network	Janaki Nagarajan Panther Lake Elementary School
Nicki Newton Newton Education Solutions	Georgina Rivera Bristol Public Schools
Cathery Yeh Chapman University	Myuriel Von Aspen Newport-Mesa Unified School District