NCSM’s mission is to equip and empower a diverse education community with leadership skills to improve mathematics education.
Last year, our board set a goal to extend our reach and create a greater impact by connecting with more leaders and growing our membership. We have made significant efforts to engage more with our current members, as well as to engage with leaders from our state and regional affiliates who are also focused on improving mathematics teaching and learning in their spaces. Additionally, we have reached out to leadership organizations outside the math-specific sphere.
This year, we aim to connect with more types of leaders who have the power to make a difference, but who may not realize the impact they can have on mathematics education. With the rapidly changing landscape of education policy and supports, collaboration and partnership across leadership roles will be vital.
Several weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the spring meeting of the Florida Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (FL-ALAS). I am happy to say that FL-ALAS is NCSM’s newest affiliate organization. Dr. Miguel Cardona, former Secretary of Education, addressed the group, emphasizing the growing need for strong leadership and partnerships in education. He stated that now is the time when leaders are most needed and can make the biggest difference.
Dr. Shirley Malcom recently spoke to representatives of the STEMM Opportunity Alliance (SOA), which works to ensure that every American, regardless of background or location, has access and opportunity to thrive in the STEMM economy. She encouraged us to continue leading by navigating the current context, avoiding distractions, and staying focused on our goals. She emphasized that we own our goals for our students, and it is up to us to stay on track.
The NCSM Board of Directors met this week and were inspired by a quote from Ayn Rand’s character Howard Roark in The Fountainhead: “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” Like other leaders across the field, our board is honing in on strategic decision-making, focusing on what is relevant and meaningful to our members today and in the future. We are connecting with a more diverse community of leaders to increase our impact and keeping all our energy directed toward our goals for students. No one can stop us!
NCSM is the premier mathematics education leadership organization. Thanks to each and every one of you, bold Math Ed Leaders, for your daily efforts, your willingness to step up in challenging times, and for keeping our goal of success for every student at the forefront of your work. We aim to grow our membership with new leaders, retain each member, and build our community by providing valuable and relevant resources and opportunities to learn and grow together.
Each leader’s perspective and contribution are important to this organization. You will be receiving a survey or two, the results of which will help us better position our work and supports to ensure that NCSM is hitting the right notes and gearing our collaboration and partnership efforts toward meaningful outcomes. Thank you in advance for your participation!
Lastly, keep an eye out for the upcoming NCSM position paper, Strengthening Collaborative Communities to Improve Mathematics Teaching and Learning, which will be released soon!
— Katey Arrington, NCSM President
