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Regional Director: Southern US 2

Region Details: Upcoming Events

Suzanne Mitchell

Associate Professor, Arkansas State University

6 Foxwood Cv
Jacksonville AR 72076

Home: (501) 985-0721
Email:

Message from the Director: One of the most important issues for P-16 leaders in mathematics education is the constant communication needed about mathematics concepts necessary for all students to be productive citizens. Students and teachers need to understand how to apply meaningful mathematics in everyday situations. A challenge for all state mathematics leaders is to coordinate understanding of state frameworks and national standards with both the K-12 education community and the Colleges of Education and Arts and Sciences that prepare highly qualified teachers. My greatest contribution to mathematics education is the opportunity to provide leadership and direction at the state, regional and national levels for P-16 mathematics education. In the past ten years, I have organized a Network of 12 Centers for Mathematics and Science Education in Arkansas that provide links between institutions of higher education and area public schools and businesses. These Centers provide professional development services, technical assistance and resources for teachers, administrators, and students and work to keep the public informed about the importance of a quality mathematics and science education. If elected as the Southern 2 representative, I will continue to promote professional growth for teachers involving mathematics content and instructional strategies, to create successful learning environments for students by encouraging positive teacher attitudes, expectations and classroom practice, and to expand sharing efforts among teachers, administrators, schools, and school districts across the state in the Southern Region.

Previous Experience:

Dr. Suzanne Mitchell taught secondary mathematics, grades 7-12, for 10 years, was a curriculum coordinator for mathematics and science in two large school districts for 10 years, and has been an administrator at the state level for 15 years. She has a BS degree in Mathematics, a Master's degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Mathematics, an Education Specialist degree in Educational Administration and a Doctorate from the University of Missouri at Kansas City in Education and Urban Leadership and Policy Studies in Education. She is an Associate Professor of mathematics at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Dr. Suzanne Mitchell is currently Project Director at the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) for teacher quality initiatives, which includes the higher education portion of the No Child Left Behind Grant from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to improve teacher quality in Arkansas in the areas of teacher preparation and professional development in the core content disciplines. She also administers a 1.5 million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation-EPSCoR program to improve science education through quality science professional development. From 1993-1999, she was the Project Director for Arkansas' ten million dollar Statewide Systemic Initiative grant to improve mathematics and science. At the same time, she directed the higher education portion of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program from 1991-2003 that provided funds to institutions of higher education to create graduate courses, workshops and institutes to improve the content and pedagogy of K-12 teachers in mathematics and science. From 1999-2003 she was the Project Director for a three million dollar Teacher Quality Enhancement grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This grant provided funds to Arkansas to make significant and systemic statewide changes in policy in regards to teacher licensure, teacher preparation, teacher recruitment and retention and professional development.

Professional Activities: (NCSM, NCTM, NCTM affiliates, other mathematics organizations)

  • National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: Regional Services Committee (1986-1992), Parliamentarian for the NCTM Delegate Assembly (1999-2006); member of the Task Force for Advocacy for Professional Development (1998-1999); chair of the Task Force on Mathematics Teacher Preparation, Certification and Shortage (2004-2005); NCTM Regional meetings in Little Rock General Co-Chair (1987), Publicity Chair (1992); NCTM Regional meetings, Memphis TN Program Committee (1997) Mobile AL Program Committee (2000); numerous presentations at annual and regional meetings.
  • National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics: Nominations Committee member (2004-2005), NCSM Arkansas State Representative for Southern 2 Region (2004-2006); numerous presentations at annual meetings
  • Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education: Board member (1996-2006), NCTM representative (1996-1999), Secretary Treasurer (1998-2000), Vice President (2001-2003), President (2004)
  • School Science and Mathematics Association member (1985-2006)
  • Science and Mathematics Consortium Advisory Board of the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory in Austin, Texas (1996-2005)
  • Arkansas Council of Teachers of Mathematics: NCTM representative (1981-1987); Program chair 1986; numerous presentations at the state meetings.
  • National Association of State Science and Mathematics Coalitions (1992-2006): Program Committee (1999)
  • Arkansas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Coalition: Co Executive Director (1993-2006)

Other Activities: (honors, awards, consultant/editor/author, other educational organizations)

  • National Science Teachers Association: NSTA Annual meeting in Kansas City MO, Program Chair (1993)
  • College Board Consultant: Southwest (1986-1987), Central (1987-1990), Program Committee, Little Rock AR (1999)
  • Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts-Board of Visitors (1994-2006)
  • Grant reader of state and federal grants for Texas, Oklahoma, Utah and Louisiana
  • Point of Excellence Award, Kappa Delta Pi, outstanding contribution to education in Arkansas, (1998)
  • Friend of Education Award, Arkansas Council of Teachers of English/Language Arts (2001) Outstanding Service to the Science Education Community Award, Arkansas Science Teachers Association (2003)

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