It’s Time to
Vote!
Hopefully you have received a ballot in your e-mail inbox with a unique code and the website to vote at!
If you have not received this e-mail, then check your SPAM folder, as it may have gone into there.
If you still have not received the e-mail, please contact David Erickson (MCTM Membership Chair) at david.erickson@mso.umt.edu to update your e-mail address in our membership list.
Thank you for taking the time to vote!
The bylaws of the Montana Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Article III, Section 1 states: “The
membership of the Council shall elect from its members eight (8)
directors. The term of office for each
director shall be three (3) years. These
directors shall be elected in such a way that each of the five regions shall
always be represented by at least one representative. The directors shall also
be elected in such a way that each level, elementary (K-4), upper elementary
(5-8), secondary (9-12), and higher education (13-up) shall be represented by
no less than one director at all times.
No member of the MCTM may serve more than one elected term unless a time
of five years has elapsed between terms.”
We would like to thank the following directors for their
service on the MCTM board over the last three years:
-
John
George, Region 3, 9-12 grade band
-
Pam Murnion, Region 3, K-4 grade band
-
Jennifer Brackney, Region 4, 5-8 grade band
This election, among the three new directors there will need
to be representation from Region 3 and the K-4 grade band. We have excellent director nominations –
please read their candidate biographies!
Becky Berg – Region 4, K – 4 grade band
School: Billings Public Schools
City: Billings, MT 59101
Present Teaching Assignment:
K-6 Instructional Math Coach
Education Background:
Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, Math
Concentration from University of North Dakota, Grand Forks
Master’s in Educational Technology, Boise
State University
Teaching Experience:
- 13 years of classroom
teaching experience in Grades 1, 3, 5, 6 for Elko County School District
- 7 years as a Billings Public
Schools Instructional Math Coach
- 17 years experience providing
Professional Development for educators, mostly in technology and math
areas.
- Various contract work for
colleges developing and teaching education courses such as Intro to
Elementary Education, Science Methods, Technology integration, Portfolio
Development with Canvas
Activities in MCTM: I have provided
sessions at your MCTM conferences in the past, however, not in the past couple
of years due to other commitments.
Other Information (activities, awards,
organizational memberships, etc.): I am a member of NCSM.
What positive traits you will bring to
the board?
I enjoy getting to connect and learn
through other math educators. I am passionate about the importance of
supporting teachers through face-2-face, blended learning, and other media to
reach teachers. I have a good understanding of what quality math
instruction should look like in K-6, very much a balance of concepts,
procedures and application.
I am also hoping to do a better job of
promoting MCTM to our elementary educators, as the membership is limited in
this area.
What role MCTM should take in Montana
mathematics?
MCTM can serve as leaders and advocates for
quality math education and PD in the state of Montana. Encouraging and
supporting teachers in their demanding roles is a major role that MCTM can
play.
Rusty
Bowers, Region 2, 9-12 grade band
School:
Fort Benton High School
City:
Fort Benton
Present Teaching Assignment:
I am currently teaching 3 sections of HS math: algebra 1, algebra 3, and
AP calculus. This year I am also the technology coordinator for the district
and Assistant Principal for HS/MS/ELEM as well.
Education Background:
I am currently in my last semester of my Educational Leadership masters
from MSU-Bozeman. I also have a master's and bachelor's degree in
Mathematics Education from MSU-Bozeman as well.
Teaching Experience:
I am currently in my ninth year of teaching HS math. My first four years of
teaching were in Sheridan, MT which is a small class C school. I was the
only HS math teacher in the district. Then my last four years were teaching
HS math in Belgrade. I went from the only HS math teacher to being one of
eight in the HS math department. I am been part of developing an
integrated curriculum while at Belgrade and I have learned so much about math
education in the process.
Activities in MCTM:
The only thing I can think of is presenting for MEA conferences
Other Information (activities, awards, organizational memberships, etc.):
I am part of the Montana Teacher-Leader Initiative from OPI. I was a
member of the 4-State Collaborative Project that included MT, ND, SD, IA. I am
also part of the STREAM project. I am a member of the core design team, I
helped design the HS geometry module, and facilitated the online portion of our
module. I am also presenting HS math sessions for the MIET workshops and
also for the Golden Triangle Consortium.
What positive traits you will bring to the board?
My motivation as a math educator is to help my students understand and
appreciate mathematics better. I have built my grass roots curriculum that I
teach, without a textbook, in a way that makes sense to me and also my
students. I love technology and use geogebra, desmos, nearpod, and other
technology resources, almost on a daily basis. I have been trying to find
my own way of sharing a meaningful math "story" with my students so
that they can appreciate the structure and logic of mathematics. I have
many good ideas that have been tested and others that have not been tested
yet. I am also a positive and insightful person that will bring a constructive
nature to the MCTM board.
What role MCTM should take in Montana mathematics?
I have asked this question since I started teaching HS math, "What
is the motivation of me joining MCTM?" One response is the fact that there
is a PD grant that I could win for $500, or something like that. Other
than that, I haven't really heard of a good, solid reason. I would love
to see MCTM be the one-stop shop for all the events and professional
development available in the state. Since I have been part of many
projects in the state, I love the fact that professional development is
evolving into teach leadership. Again, since I am part of different
projects, there is not a one-stop place that shares these opportunities with
others. I know that MCTM can be the informational powerhouse it used to
be, plus more. I think about my fellow colleagues who know nothing of the
work that is going on around the state. I think that if the MCTM site had
everything in the state available, we would get more members and better
enrollment in future PD opportunities.
Brooke Taylor, Region 4, 9-12
grade band
School: Billings Senior High School
City: Billings
Present Teaching Assignment: I currently teach Honors Algebra 2 &
Pre-Algebra
Education Background: B.A. in Mathematics Education (5-12) from Bethel
University, M.Ed. in School Counseling from Liberty University, working on
Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction (Mathematics Education emphasis) through
MSU
Teaching Experience: 1 year in North Carolina, 2 years in Tennessee, 1 year in
Kentucky (military base school), 4 years now at Senior - all at the high school
level teaching: Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Advanced Algebra & Trig,
and AP Calculus, and remediation/support classes in Algebra 1 & bridge
class between Algebra & Geometry
Activities in MCTM: I am newer to MCTM, but I have participated in Math Circles
in Billings, presented at MEA/MFT in 2015, was part of the winning team for
MCTM Trivia Night in 2015!, have taken part in work of integrating IEFA with
math standards and dispersing them across the state, and am a part of
developing professional development for math teachers across Montana with
CCSSO, Montana Math Leaders, and STREAM.
Other Information (activities, awards, organizational memberships, etc.):
I'm currently working on National Board Certification, am a finalist for
Montana for the PAEMST award, teach an online course with
MTDA, and participate in the Teacher-Leadership Initiative through
NEA. And I have two little munchkins whom I love dearly and keep me busy
too.
What positive traits you will bring to the board?
Even though I am a math teacher, I am also a lifelong learner. I continuously
strive to better my knowledge and practices in the teaching of
mathematics. I will bring this passion for learning and excitement to try
new ideas in order to serve well on the board. With my involvement in
mathematics in the state, I can bring those experiences and find ways to tie
MCTM into other goings on in the math community in Montana.
What role MCTM should take in Montana mathematics? I believe that MCTM
should be the "hub" for mathematics teaching in Montana. MCTM
should be the place that teachers can go to connect with other teachers, gain
materials for lessons and learning, and offer members a place to ask questions
and gain understandings from others. I hope to be able to contribute to
this endeavor in the future!
LeAnne Yenny, Region 3, 5-8 grade band
School: Emily Dickinson
Elementary School
City: Bozeman
Present Teaching Assignment: 5th grade
teacher
Education Background: The 2015 - 16
school year marks my 21st year teaching.
- 2 years, grade 5 teacher, Bozeman, MT
- 2 years, Teacher in Residence at Montana
State University - Bozeman, Department of Mathematical Sciences
- 11 years, Middle School Math and Science,
Sacajawea Middle School, Bozeman
- 2 years, Peace Corps Volunteer,
Philippines
- 4 years, teacher, Harrison, MT
Activities in MCTM:
Past SW Montana Math Contest Director
(3 years)
Other Information (activities, awards, organizational memberships, etc.):
National Board Certified in Early Adolescent
Mathematics
What positive traits you will bring to the board?
Leadership, Experience, Enthusiasm,
Creativity, and Commitment
What role MCTM should take in Montana mathematics?
Leadership. With the constant advances in
educational pedagogy, MCTM should serve as the leader in teacher outreach and
growth.
Joe Zephyrs, Region 1, 5-8 grade band
My name is Joe Zephyrs and I
am currently the 5th through 8th grade math teacher at Sussex School, a small
independent community school located in Missoula, MT. I recently received my
M.Ed. from the University of Montana's Curriculum and Instruction program under
the advisement of David Erickson. As a professional mathematics educator, I'm
interested in how literature and games can positively impact students' interest
and engagement in the curriculum. I really enjoy the Math Circles and how they
help to bring together and connect local math teachers, and think MCTM can take
an increased role in providing more frequent opportunities for local
gatherings.
