Rori Abernethy - High School/ Middle School Math Teacher, Union Rep, Instructional Leadership CORPS (Oakland, CA and San Francisco CA

ABOUT

I loved teaching in Oakland for the past 13 years. I taught for 10 years at Oakland High School. Prior to teaching high school, I taught 6th, 7th, and 8th math grade for three years in East Oakland and at a private school. I am currently an Math for American Master Teacher Fellow at UC Berkeley and an Instructional Leadership Corps Member for CA.

PROBLEM

Districts co-opting professional development that is already working well!  Bringing in consultants of "district leadership" and not respecting academic freedom and teachers as professionals.

SOLUTION

Working outside of district constructs through my union and local universities. As well as creating a math circle within my math department.

RESOURCES

MƒA Master Teacher Fellowship

MƒA Berkeley was launched in 2010 to provide the most promising mathematics and science teachers in the San Francisco Bay Area with professional and leadership development opportunities, and a support community of engaged professionals. MƒA Berkeley offers the Master Teachers Fellowship to provide teachers the resources and professional support they need to excel in today’s urban classrooms. The program is a partnership with the University of California, Berkeley.

What is a Math Circle?

Math Circles bring mathematicians and mathematical scientists into direct contact with pre-college students. These students (and sometimes their teachers) meet with mathematics professionals in an informal setting, after school or on weekends, to work on interesting problems or topics in mathematics. These interactions get students excited about mathematics and provide them with a community to foster their passion for mathematical thinking. Find out more about Math Circles at the National Association of Math Circles (NAMC) website, http://mathcircles.org. 

The Instructional Leadership Corps (ILC) 

This is a three-year project to build a statewide network of accomplished classroom teachers and other education leaders who will support the implementation of schoolwide professional learning on the Common Core Standards in ELA and Mathematics, and the Next Generation Science Standards. The first cohort of 184 educators has been engaged in professional development this year and planning is underway for the second cohort for the 2015-16 school year.