Ruth Heaton, the Gilmartin Professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education in the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), was presented the 2016 Nadine Bezuk Award for Excellence in Leadership and Service in Mathematics Teacher Education Jan. 28 in Irvine, California at the annual conference of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE).
Heaton is leading efforts to build the mathematics instructional capacities of preK-8 teachers in Nebraska and studying their learning. She supports and studies the work of math coaches and elementary administrators in several school districts within Nebraska as they learn how to support teachers as learners. Heaton is also collaborating with other UNL researchers from a variety of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines to study and change how large enrollment undergraduate STEM courses are taught. In the process, they hope to influence the culture of STEM departments and how effective teaching is valued, defined and assessed.
Heaton was an elementary school teacher for 10 years before pursuing her Ph.D. in curriculum, teaching and educational policy with an emphasis in mathematics education from Michigan State University. She has been principal investigator (PI) or co-PI on grants totaling over $16 million from the National Science Foundation and another $7.4 million primarily from private foundations to support her work. Heaton recently served as a member of the editorial panel for the “Journal for Research in Mathematics Education” and was the secretary/treasurer for the Rural Education Special Interest Group of the American Educational Research Association.
At UNL, she collaborates closely with faculty in the Department of Mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences to prepare prospective teachers in an innovative program that integrates math content, pedagogy and field experience. Heaton has published articles in numerous journals, including “Elementary School Journal,” “Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education,” “Mathematics Teacher Educator” and “Notices of the American Mathematical Society,” as well as a book, “Teaching Mathematics to the New Standards: Relearning the Dance,” with Teachers College Press.
About the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators
AMTE is the largest professional organization devoted to the improvement of mathematics teacher education. It includes over 1,000 members supporting the preservice education and professional development of K-12 teachers of mathematics. Members include professors, researchers, teacher-leaders, school mathematics coordinators, policy experts, graduate students and others.
The Excellence Award in Mathematics Teacher Education is awarded once every three years by AMTE in each of three areas on a rotating basis: Excellence in Teaching; Nadine Bezuk Excellence in Leadership and Service; and Excellence in Scholarship.
(Content of this article provided in part by AMTE.)