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The Tennessee Department of Education recently awarded a Math-Science Partnership (MSP) Mini-Grant in the amount of $56,507 to Lee University for the fall 2014 semester. The grant will be led by Lee professors Dr. Laura Singletary and Dr. Debra Mimbs and will include a professional development class for 25 6th- and 7th-grade teachers. Amber Caldwell, the Mathematics Coordinator for Bradley County Schools, helped facilitate the partnership between Lee and the teachers.

Teachers from Ocoee Middle School, Lake Forest Middle School, and Tennessee Christian Preparatory School will participate in the class, “Middle Grade Mathematics: Developing Conceptual Understanding.” This class will take place on Monday evenings throughout the fall semester on Lee’s campus. It will focus on helping teachers promote a conceptual knowledge of mathematics among their students while aligning with the new curriculum and standards that the Bradley County School District has put into place for the school year.

According to Singletary, professional development classes ordinarily have an intensive format over a short period of time, but research shows that ongoing professional development is much more effective. Therefore, Singletary and Mimbs have opted to teach throughout the semester, working alongside the teachers as they interpret and implement the new curriculum.

“By offering this class, we are not trying to give teachers more work to do,” said Mimbs. “Instead, we desire to support them in the work they are already doing.”

To encourage involvement, Mimbs and Singletary will use part of the grant money to provide a stipend and supplies for participants. Additionally, Lee University has waived the tuition and fees for the class.

“We are looking forward to spending the semester working with these incredible teachers,” said Singletary.

Mimbs joined Lee’s faculty in fall 2010. She earned her doctorate and master’s degree in applied and computational mathematics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and her bachelor’s degree from Lee University. She has published research in such publications as Transactions of the American Mathematical Society and is currently researching with undergraduates in the area of pattern blocks funded by a grant from the Center for Undergraduate Research in Mathematics.

Singletary earned her PhD in Mathematics Education from the University of Georgia and was awarded the Presidential Graduate Fellowship. She has published research in such publications as Mathematical Thinking and Learning, and Educational Studies in Mathematics, Mathematics Teacher Educator, and School Science and Mathematics. Drs. Singletary and Mimbs are currently co-directing grant projects from the Mathematical Association of America and the Tennessee Department of Education.

This project is funded under an agreement with the state of Tennessee. For more information, please contact Mimbs at [email protected] or (423) 614-6015, or Singletary at [email protected] or (423) 303-5144.