Strengthening and Growing Our Organization
In February 2024 I will complete my first year as AMTE President. This year has provided a wonderful opportunity for me to experience first-hand many of the great things our organization does and has given me more reasons to be proud of our organization and its members. It has also made me think about actions we can take to strengthen and grow our organization so that Mathematics Teacher Educators can count on AMTE to provide support and leadership for many years to come. In this note I share some thoughts on the present and future of our organization. While I use some examples of the work AMTE is doing, there is a lot more happening that I was not able to mention.
The Contributions of Our Affiliates
Our affiliates are a vital part of our organization as they amplify our work by multiplying efforts within their states. Visiting with affiliates has been energizing and gratifying, and I am impressed by the many activities they undertake. Whether they are a seasoned or a newly formed affiliate, they all are trying to contribute to the mission and goals of our organization. If you are a member of an AMTE affiliate, I encourage you to support their work and to reach out to AMTE leadership if you have any ideas on how we can better support their work. If your state does not have an affiliate organization yet, consider networking with colleagues and think about creating one. Check our Affiliate Leader Resources page (https://amte.net/affiliates) for more information.
Supporting Early Career Faculty
Supporting and nurturing early career faculty is critical for our profession. AMTE offers several opportunities to our members, including the STaR program (https://www.amte.net/star), the BIPOC Mentoring Program (https://amte.net/content/amte-early-career-bipoc-faculty-mentoring-program), and the Fall Virtual Institute (https://amte.net/civicrm/event/info?id=35&reset=1). This past summer I had the chance to be at the summer retreat for the STaR program in Park City Utah. I worked with 23 bright and enthusiastic mathematics teacher educators. During the retreat they had the chance to reflect on how to navigate their new careers considering research, teaching, and service. They also received feedback and worked on manuscripts, networked, and established new collaborations. It was really inspiring to see the dedication of the staff and the learning, synergies, and exchanges that took place. The Fall Virtual Institute addressed all aspects of mathematics methods courses. Attendees learned about equitable pedagogy, technology, curriculum, and assessment for methods of teaching mathematics courses. We had wonderful presenters who shared strategies and resources, and I came away with the sense that everyone had new ideas they would try next time they teach a methods course. The BIPOC Mentoring Program is currently on its second year, and we have received wonderful feedback from those who participated in the first year of the program. All of these programs are having a great impact and help us work on AMTE’s mission and make progress toward the long-term goals. We need to look for ways to guarantee that these programs have funding for many years to come so that they do not depend on the fundraising we can do in a given year.
2024 Conference
As I look at the program for the 2024 conference (https://amte.net/content/2024-annual-amte-conference), I am excited about the great sessions we will have. There are 582 speakers on this year’s program offering over 200 sessions on a variety of interesting topics. The location for this year’s conference has presented many challenges. Teachers and educators in many states are facing harmful legislation that is dehumanizing, Florida is one of such states. We have explained elsewhere why AMTE is locked into a contract for this venue (https://amte.net/connections/2023/03/amte-2024-annual-conference-leadership-message). Because of these challenges many in AMTE leadership and several committees have joined forces to create a conference environment that is conducive to professional growth, while striving to keep everyone safe. We will offer asynchronous ways to connect and communicate with colleagues for a 2-week period that includes days before and after the conference. This feature will also allow presenters to share their work more widely as they can reach members beyond those who are able to attend their sessions. I am excited about these new ways to connect and build community.
As we move forward, we need to reflect on how to make decisions about conference venues, since the number of states passing dehumanizing legislation keeps growing. California realized that the travel ban was isolating them and has changed its strategy. Let us find ways to use our conference to spread a message of equity and antiracism and wherever we go be visible and be an example of embracing inclusivity to help everyone succeed.
Creating Structures that Ensure the Future of Our Organization
As we continue to grow in membership there is an increase in the time and number of people required to run our organization. We have been an association that is largely run by volunteers, and this has been one of our strengths. However, there are tasks that are needed in which we do not necessarily have knowledge or expertise. The recent decision to hire Civica Associations Conferences and Exhibitions to provide Executive Director services and manage the operation of AMTE is a move in the right direction. We need to continue examining how to better support the growth of our organization and use structures that will ensure a great future. Knowing the creativity and dedication of our members and Civica’s strengths makes me feel very optimistic about the future of our organization.
Enrique Galindo