NCTM President Fennell Appointed to Presidential Math Advisory Panel

Reston, Va., May 17, 2006 - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics President Francis (Skip) Fennell has been selected to serve on President Bush's newly created National Mathematics Advisory Panel, the Department of Education announced on Monday. The panel will advise the President and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings on the best use of scientifically based research on the teaching and learning of mathematics.

"I'm looking forward to this opportunity for the Council to be involved in the important national decisions to be made about the teaching and learning of mathematics for all students," said Fennell. "As a panel member, I hope to draw on my experiences in mathematics education to help in the development of a plan to meet the goals of the panel, which include an appropriate and challenging mathematics experience for all students from the early grades on. To keep America competitive, we must improve the mathematics education for all our students, and we must produce highly qualified teachers with a strong background in both mathematics content and pedagogy," he said.

Fennell's 40 years in education include experience as a classroom teacher, principal, supervisor, teacher educator, policymaker, and author. He has also played important roles in the development of effective mathematics curricula across the United States.

Modeled on the National Reading Panel, the National Mathematics Advisory Panel will examine and summarize the scientific evidence related to the teaching and learning of mathematics, with a specific focus on preparation for and success in learning algebra. The panel will issue an interim report by January 31, 2007, and a final report no later than February 28, 2008.

"There have been several recent, important efforts by various segments of the math community to find common ground," said James M. Rubillo, the council's executive director. "We hope this panel will honestly and openly find a path that will help the 15,000 school districts in this country that have to decide how to teach mathematics."

Fennell has been professor of education at McDaniel College since 1976, and holds bachelor's and master's degrees in education. His Ph.D. is in curriculum and instruction, focusing on mathematics education, from the Pennsylvania State University.

Fennell, who has consulted with the National Science Foundation, was presented the Glenn Gilbert National Leadership Award in 2000 from the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics. In 1997 he was named the Maryland Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

NCTM is the world's largest organization dedicated to the teaching and learning of mathematics. With 100,000 members, NCTM supports mathematics educators in all 50 states and Canada.

Contact: Gay Dillin, Media Relations Manager, (703) 620-9840 ext. 2189, gdillin@nctm.org.