Team of the Quarter: TEMME emphasizes program development and equity

We are excited to highlight the work of the Transformative Eastern Michigan Mathematics Educators (TEMME) as the October 2024 MTEP Team of the Quarter. This team NIC is making strides in addressing program development and equity, using the power of collaboration, continuous learning, and improvement science to drive change.

Overview of the NIC

• Participating institutions: Eastern Michigan University (EMU), Washtenaw Educational Options Consortium, Washtenaw Technical Middle College, Washtenaw Community College, and Washtenaw Intermediate School District
  
• Team members: Twelve members make up the team, including two K-12 personnel, three mathematicians, and three math educators.
  
• Focus area: TEMME’s aim focuses on program development and equity. According to Stephanie Casey, TEMME team leader and math teacher educator in EMU’s mathematics and statistics, the team has emphasized different focus areas throughout its years in MTEP. For example, the team has previously centered connecting various organizations’ recruitment and retention efforts and revising EMU’s secondary math education program.
  
  "Now we're shifting to focus more on enacting the revised program, which includes renewed efforts for collaboration between EMU's College of Education and the Department of Mathematics & Statistics," Casey said.
  
• Duration of work: TEMME has been an MTEP member since the end of MTEP 1.0, beginning in Fall 2020. Although the same five institutions have been part of TEMME since its inception, the team has undergone personnel changes in several positions (for example, EMU's Associate Dean for Student and Curriculum in the College of Education).

• Secondary math education program revision
  "One of our biggest accomplishments has been the revision of EMU's secondary math education program," said Casey. "This involved multiple years of work by many TEMME members. We feel confident that the new program better prepares teacher candidates to enter the teacher workforce."
  
• Creating opportunities for discussion through the DEI book club
  TEMME’s DEI book club has been meeting regularly since Fall 2020. Over the past year, the team has disseminated their book club efforts through presentations at state conferences, inspiring other universities to start DEI book clubs. The team’s efforts also helped earn a grant to support DEI-related initiatives in the EMU mathematics and statistics department.
  
• Using PDSA cycles to get un-stuck
  TEMME uses PDSA cycles as a tool for guiding improvement efforts, such as launching the DEI book club and making needed adjustments as they carry out the work. Andrew Ross, TEMME team member, DEI book club co-leader, and mathematician, said, "The PDSA framework has given us a way to get un-stuck: instead of being paralyzed trying to design something perfectly the first time (without much information on what complications might come up), we can get going with an initial plan and then adapt as we learn more. It also gives us the ability to try something new, like an asynchronous version of our DEI book club this semester."

• "Being part of MTEP in general (and attending the conferences) has expanded my horizons more than I could have imagined about teacher education and social issues in education generally. That has made me a better teacher for all of my students," said Ross. "Being a member of our local NIC has given me a chance to work on improving our program, with all the joys and struggles that come with that. It has given me enough of a background to participate as a co-facilitator for local communities of the Inclusive STEM Teaching Project and for the [Mathematical Association of America]'s NExT [New Experiences in Teaching] teaching support groups."
  
• "[Leading a team NIC] has allowed me to feel fulfilled in enacting systemic change.," said Casey. "It has also helped me connect with others passionate about this work, both locally and nationally, which has been wonderful as well."

• Fall 2024 activities: Developing an "active" advising model for secondary mathematics education majors, secondary mathematics education clubs, program awareness and recruitment, and continuing the DEI book club
  
• Spring 2025 plans: Planning program implementation, committee development, supporting the identification of potential math teacher candidates, creating more opportunities for teacher candidate recognition, and partnership development
  
• Ongoing efforts: Supporting the Math/Stat Equitable Teaching Fellows Program, holding monthly team meetings, and participating in college of arts and sciences meetings