Wall meets with lawmakers on Capitol Hill as MCTM delegate

Dr. Jenni Wall, an associate professor of mathematics education at Northwest Missouri State University, recently served as a Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics delegate to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ Math Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Wall joined two other mathematics educators in October from Missouri for visits to Missouri senators’ offices to discuss the importance of ongoing support for teachers. The House’s proposed Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill would cut Title I and Title II funds by 80 percent, and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics was more supportive of the Senate’s bipartisan bill.

Wall discussed the importance of professional development for teachers, drawing on her experience with teachers pursuing their certification as Elementary Math Specialists (EMS). Missouri uses Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to support elementary teachers earning EMS certification.

“Many teachers expressed that without the support from the state, they never would have entered a mathematics graduate program,” Wall said. “Now, nearing the end of the program, they are happy with how much they have learned and the new ideas they are implementing and sharing with their colleagues.”

Statewide, Missouri is seeing a rise in standardized test scores in mathematics since the COVID-19 pandemic and since implementing ESSER funds to support more than 600 elementary teachers earning the EMS certification.