Candidate for Board Member-at-Large
Edward A. Silver
William A. Brownell Collegiate Professor of Education
and Professor of Mathematics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor;
currently also Dean of the School of Education, University of Michigan-Dearborn
Over a 40-year span I have taught at the middle school and high school levels in New York State and at universities in Illinois, California, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. I received my doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University. My scholarly interests include mathematical problem solving and problem posing; the design and analysis of intellectually engaging and equitable mathematics instruction; innovative methods of assessing and reporting mathematics achievement; and effective models for enhancing the knowledge of teachers of mathematics. My work has been published in major research journals and also in outlets intended for the K-12 mathematics teacher or teacher education practice community.
I have served as editor of the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, co-editor of The Elementary School Journal, member of the National Academy of Science’s Committee on the Study of Teacher Preparation Programs in the United States, and director or co-director of several major projects (e.g., QUASAR, COMET, BIFOCAL, CPTM, and DELTA) I received the 2004 Award for Outstanding Contributions of Educational Research to Practice from the American Educational Research Association, the 2007 Iris Carl Memorial Leadership and Equity Award from TODOS, the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the 2011 Senior Scholar award from the Special Interest Group for Research in Mathematics Education (SIG/RME) of the American Educational Research Association
Service & Commitment to AMTE
I am a long-time member of AMTE, a frequent speaker at annual meetings, and a contributor to several AMTE monographs. In addition I served as chair of the Research Task Force for AMTE in 2008, and then as the first chair of the AMTE Research Advisory Committee in 2009-2010. I was the Judith Jacobs lecturer in 2008.
In addition to being a member service organization for those who prepare and provide continuing professional education to teachers of mathematics, AMTE can play a key role in national conversations about mathematics teaching and teacher education. Through its membership in the Conference Board of Mathematical Sciences and its partnerships with other national professional organizations AMTE gives voice to the perspectives and concerns of mathematics teacher educators. Through its position papers, statements of standards, and thematic reports, the organization can help to shape discourse and inform decisions that affect the preparation and continuing education of teachers of mathematics. Given the intense scrutiny and frequent criticism of teacher education in the current educational conversation, it is critical that the leadership of AMTE be knowledgeable about the issues of deep concern to policy makers and the public and be prepared to use solid evidence and sound argument to advance an agenda that ensures high quality mathematics teacher education now and in the future. I pledge to contribute my knowledge, skill, energy, and perspective to this important work as a member of the Board.