Cindy Beaman, of the first cohort of Primarily Math and a Noyce Master Teaching Fellow, has retired from Grand Island Public Schools, after 38 years. Beaman was the math curriculum coordinator for the district.
Primarily Math began as one component of NebraskaMATH, a $9.2 million Math Science Partnership to UNL from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The goal of Primarily Math is to strengthen kindergarten to third-grade teachers’ mathematical and pedagogical knowledge for teaching and their professional interactions with other teachers in their schools, while improving attitudes toward the teaching and learning of mathematics. Beaman completed the program in 2010 and went on to become one of the instructors.
Danielle Dudo, pictured on the right with Beaman, said, "This lady right here has been my superhero since coming to GIPS! She has pushed me as a mathematician, leader in mathematics and has made me a better math educator. She is going to be greatly missed. Enjoy retirement Cindy; you deserve every minute of it!" Dudo completed Primarily Math in 2014.
Danielle Buhrman, who was a Noyce Master Teacher with Beaman, will take over as the PK-12 Mathematics Curriculum Coordinator for GIPS. "I am excited to help shape the direction the district takes as we help all students see themselves as mathematicians with brilliant ideas to share, and I am thankful for continued opportunities to learn from the amazing teachers, coaches, and admin we have in the district," Buhrman said.
As Noyce MTFs from 2011 to 2017, Beaman and Buhrman took coursework emphasizing developing leadership skills, teaching diverse learners in high-need schools, and motivation of students in the classroom. NebraskaNOYCE was supported by the National Science Foundation.