USM Hosting Mississippi Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference

Tue, 10/22/2024 - 04:03pm | By: Dr. David Tisdale

The Mississippi Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM) will hold its fall conference at The University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) Hattiesburg campus Oct. 24-25. This year’s conference theme is “TASKS: Critically Thinking About Culturally Sustaining Mathematics Knowledge in our State." Dr. Anna Wan, associate professor of mathematics education and founder and director of Eagle Maker Hub is MCTM conference chair for 2024. 

This conference is co-sponsored by two of Southern Miss student organizations, with Chandler Shimp in student leadership of Association for Women in Mathematics (Dr. Haiyan Tian, faculty advisor) and Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (James Lambers, faculty advisor). 

Vermester Jackson Bester, a veteran Hattiesburg mathematics educator and graduate of both Southern Miss and William Carey University, will be the conference’s keynote speaker.   

“I’m so thankful to work with amazing colleagues and students, as this conference would not be possible without the collaborative effort of the MCTM board members, conference center staff, students and faculty here at USM,” Dr. Wan said.

“As teachers, we’re not only tasked with imparting mathematical knowledge, but also nurturing critical thinking and fostering a classroom environment that is culturally responsive and inclusive. Our goal is to ensure every student, regardless of background, sees themselves reflected in the mathematics they learn and feels empowered to thrive in a world that increasingly demands strong analytical and quantitative skills.”

Conference participants will have the opportunity to engage in dynamic workshops, thought-provoking sessions, and collaborative discussions. “Together, we will explore strategies to deepen our students' understanding of mathematics, while also sustaining the cultural richness of our state,” Dr. Wan said in discussing her goals for the two-day conference. “From innovative teaching practices to powerful stories of success, I hope everyone leaves the conference with a renewed sense of purpose and practical tools to enrich their classrooms.”

Click here for more information about the MTCM Fall 2024 conference.