Transformative Service Leadership through a Collaborative Team Approach
As we near the holidays and a break from the academic calendar to enjoy some well-deserved rest and recovery time, I would like to take the opportunity to express my gratitude for the phenomenal community of leaders we have throughout mathematics education and teacher education. AMTE continues to be the professional home for so many of us as we engage in critically important teaching, research, community engagement and policy & advocacy work to serve the needs of our diverse students, families, teachers, PK-12 schools, universities, and educational partners.
In this Winter 2025 President’s message, I wish to acknowledge the tremendously important and transformative service leadership that is taking place within/beyond our AMTE community through a collaborative team approach.
Some of these impactful efforts include:
- Community Building & Advocacy with Intentionality
- Professional Learning & Development Opportunities
- Annual Conference Program and Planning
- Strategic Partnerships & Multi-Organizational Efforts
- Communications & Outreach Efforts
Each of these areas reflects AMTE’s unwavering commitment to supporting and elevating the field of mathematics teacher education—work that is only possible because of the dedication, expertise, and collaborative spirit of our community of volunteer leaders!
Together, we are connecting and extending community building efforts with intentionality and inclusion to further connect and unite our current and future members. Our comprehensive approaches are focused on bringing the brilliance of individuals, teams and organizational partners together throughout teacher education spaces, disciplinary content areas as well as interdisciplinary efforts that focus on leading and reflecting the evolving needs of our communities and society at large.
With our 30th AMTE Annual Conference fast approaching in February 2026 held in Portland, I would like to thank the phenomenal dedication ,vision and commitment of our entire professional learning division led by VP of Professional Learning, Rick Hudson. In November 2025, the AVP for Professional Development Ayanna Perry and the entire committee organized and led our 2025 AMTE Virtual Institute, a professional learning opportunity designed to support mathematics teacher educators at all stages of their careers. This year’s theme, Across the Arc: Sustaining Our Learning, Sharing Our Practice, invited our community to reflect on how we grow, contribute, and thrive in a changing educational landscape. Terrific sessions included a wonderful keynote conversation on learning as a mathematics teacher educator with Joel Amidon, Dusty Jones, and Jennifer Wolfe, hosts of the Teaching Math Teaching Podcast.
The Conference committee led by AVP for Conferences Cynthia Taylor working closely with the local arrangements committee have been meticulously taking care of the planning and logistical components of our 2026 gathering in Portland. In addition to taking care of the critical details to ensure a successful community experience for our AMTE conference attendees, I would like to thank this group for the consistent organizational and communication approach to keep the various components of the conference mosaic coherently structured. Additionally, they are already leading efforts for future AMTE annual conferences in 2027 and beyond!
Additionally, a big shout out to Luke Reinke - AVP for Annual Conference Program (Program Chair) - for leading, organizing and communicating all aspects of this critical committee’s efforts. The work of the program committee begins with updating the call for proposals, and extends to the extensive review of all submissions as well as notifications for accepted sessions. Luke’s vision and approach towards this year’s evolving conference program has been superbly creative and understanding of the various moving pieces to bring together our community while inviting additional partners connected to mathematics teacher education.
This year we are very excited for our Partnership with Teachers Development Group: Collaborating and co-constructing this vision with Ruth Heaton, Portland-based Teachers Development Group will offer sessions specifically designed for K–12 classroom teachers and school-based leaders for Saturday-only sessions. This partnership will provide a wonderful opportunity for mathematics teacher educators and classroom teachers to share in educational efforts and engage in critical conversations to support students, teachers and schools through focused professional learning opportunities. Saturday-only registration includes breakfast and morning sessions, provided by AMTE, with lunch and afternoon sessions sponsored by Teachers Development Group.
Over the course of the next few months, on behalf of AMTE, I am excited to share with you our ongoing efforts for additional strategic partnerships including collaborative efforts with other mathematics education organizations. Additionally, we are looking to reimagine our social media, communications and outreach approaches to continue to serve, showcase and connect with our mathematics educational members and related community partners.
Incredibly grateful to our dedicated, visionary and justice-oriented leadership who volunteer their time, and the humanity and intentionality they engage with/for our mathematics teacher education community. Special thanks to our past president, Enrique Galindo and our executive director Kim Gill who offer consistent wisdom, perspectives, and solutions for all our efforts. Honored to be part of our reflective and simultaneously forward looking group demonstrating Transformative Service Leadership through a Collaborative Team Approach!
Farshid Safi, AMTE President