Learn more about MTEP Research Hub member Sarvani Pemmaraju, PhD student and graduate teaching and research assistant at Middle Tennessee State University.
How long have you been at your institution?
SP: This is my third year as a doctoral student at Middle Tennessee State University. I have been working with MTEP since August 2023.
Who is your favorite mathematician or educator character in a book, movie or TV show?
SP: Mathematician John Nash from the movie A Beautiful Mind is my favorite. His life journey is inspiring.
What inspired you to get involved in mathematics education research?
SP: Before joining my doctoral program, I taught high school students with learning differences. Teaching these students and watching them struggle with mathematics has inspired me to learn more effective ways to teach.
What skills or knowledge are you learning through working with the partnership that you find most useful in your career?
SP: I have gained some practical research experience through my journey with MTEP. [Co-PI] Dr. Alyson Lischka’s esteemed guidance in every step of the process throughout these past years made it an amazing learning experience for me and inspired me to bring my best. Also, seeing a team of established researchers around the country collaborate on a shared project has shown me the importance of collective effort in advancing meaningful work.
What advice would you give to students who want to pursue careers in mathematics teaching, teacher preparation, and/or education research?
SP: While I was in middle school, mathematics was my least favorite subject. My seventh-grade math teacher has inspired me to learn math. If it was not for him, I would not be what I am today. So as teachers, we have the ability to transform the lives of our students and inspire them. Be gentle with them!
How is your involvement in MTEP work worthwhile to your graduate school/professional journey?
SP: Working as a research assistant on the MTEP project has helped me get a holistic view of professional research as well as gain insights into the many dimensions involved within each of the steps. Being involved in every step of the research process like conducting interviews, cleaning transcripts, coding, reconciling codes, and summarizing transcripts helped me gain practical research experience.
What skill do you think is most valuable for students considering a career in mathematics teaching, teacher preparation, and/or education research?
SP: Understanding student thinking with an asset-based perspective is a needed skill for teachers. Focusing on what students know and how they are making sense of mathematical ideas can help guide them in productive ways.
Tell us about the most rewarding mathematics education experience that you have had.
SP: Teaching mathematics content courses for elementary preservice teachers and watching them thrive over the course of a semester is an amazing experience for me. Especially witnessing students who start out being shy in class eventually coming out of their comfort zone and developing into confident future teachers is one of my rewarding experiences. Teaching students with learning differences and witnessing the spark of joy in their eyes when they grasp a concept was another one of my most rewarding experiences.