Math Specialist Program

Who are Mathematics Specialists?
Mathematics Specialists are teacher leaders with strong preparation and background in mathematics content, instructional strategies, and school leadership. Based in elementary and middle schools, mathematics specialists are former classroom teachers who are responsible for supporting the professional growth of their colleagues and promoting enhanced mathematics instruction and student learning throughout their schools. They are responsible for strengthening classroom teachers' understanding of mathematics content and helping teachers develop more effective mathematics teaching practices that allow all students to reach high standards, as well as sharing research addressing how students learn mathematics.

The overarching purpose for Mathematics Specialists is to increase the mathematics achievement of all the students in their schools. To do so, they
  • collaborate with individual teachers through co-planning, co-teaching, and coaching;
  • assist administrative and instructional staff in interpreting data and designing approaches to imporve student achievement and instruction;
  • ensure that the curriculum is aligned with state and national standards and their school division' mathematics curriculum;
  • promote teachers' delivery and understanding of the school curriculum through collaborative long-range and short-range planning;
  • facilitate teachers' use of successful, research-based instructional strategies, including differentiated instruction for diverse learners such as those with limited English proficiency or disabilities;
  • work with parent/guardians and community leaders to foster continuing home/school/community partnerships focused on students' learning of mathematics; and
  • collaborate with adminsitrators to provide leadership and vision for a school-wide mathematics program.

The Math Specialist M.Ed. Program
For those who do not already have a Master's Degree, UVa offers a Math Specialist M.Ed. program. The Mathematics Specialist program at UVa is a 33-credit program leading to an M.Ed. degree in mathematics education. The program will be offered in a cohort model with candidates typically completing the program over three years.

Candidates must complete all of the M.Ed. course requirements.
  • At least 18 of the required 33 credits, including the Practicum, must be granted by UVa. Up to 6 transfer credits may be approved upon admission to the program, and the remainder of the credits must be from consortium partners as approved by the student's advisor, the UVa Curry School, and the Mathematics Specialist Advisory Committee.
  • The Practicum will offer planned off-grounds experiences for advanced graduate students designed to extend professional competencies that are carried out under supervision of an approved professional.
Activities, final report, and presentation/publication will be directed by the student's university advisor.


Course Requirements

   Mathematics and Mathematics Education Courses   (18 credits)
   (1) MATH 653: Numbers and Operations
   (2) MATH 670: Geometry and Measurement
   (3) MATH 612: Probability and Statistics
   (4) MATH 652: Functions and Algebra
   (5) MATH 654: Rational Numbers and Proportional Reasoning
   (6) EDIS 745: Problems and Issues in Mathematics Education

   Educational Foundation Courses    (9 credits)
   (7) EDIS 882: Curriculum: Advanced Theory (Mathematics)
   (8) EDLF 782: Development and Evaluation of Educational Staff
   (9) EDIS 891: Field Project (Practicum)

   Electives**   (6 credits)


       *MATH 653 is a prerequisite for all other courses
      **Electives must be approved by advisor

The program is specifically designed to develop competencies in the proposed mathematics specialist endorsement.


Admissions Procedures
Application materials for the Math Specialist Program are available at the Office for Mathematics Outreach. For individuals who do not have a master's degree there is a two-step process. The first step is to request an application to the Math Specialist Program, which is to be completed by the candidate and the school division in which the candidate is currently teaching. Once the candidate has been admitted to the Math Specialist Program, the second step is for the candidate to apply for a master's degree with one of the partnering institutes, UVa, VCU, NSU, GMU, and LWU. A UVa Math Specialist M.Ed. application will only be distributed to those who have been admitted to the Math Specialist Program.

If an individual has a master's degree (it does not matter what discipline) he/she must complete the two-part Math Specialist Program application. Once admitted to the program, the participant will only be required to take the five core K-8 Math Specialist math courses and the three follow-up Leadership courses (EDIS 745, EDLF 782, & EDIS 882) leading to the Math Specialist endorsement.

Those who enter the program must expect to complete three years of classroom teaching in which teaching mathematics is a significant part of the assignment before completing the program course work. (This applies to all participants; those already possessing a master's degree and those in a Math Specialist master's degree program.)

Admission materials should be completed and returned to:

University of Virginia
Math Specialist Project
P.O. Box 400764
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4762

Since these programs are offered as cohort programs, accepted students will receive registration priority in all classes. Other individuals will be admitted in classes on a space-available basis.


Application:
Contact Susan Lynch, scl4d @virginia.edu

For more information on Math Specialists:
Virginia Math & Science Coalition
Statewide Masters Program