A Message from the President
Dear Colleagues,
I begin this writing with gratitude, once again, to each who has contributed to TODOS over the 20 years. Through all of this our organization has been gifted with leaders who’ve led with courage and passion around the Mission and Goals of TODOS.
Over the past two years I’ve been honoured to serve alongside the current Board. Each of these individuals have contributed in dynamic and unique ways and collectively we’ve initiated and began to explore ideas and structures in order for TODOS to expand its systemic influence.
Some of the current Board members will be completing their terms on April 30, 2024. As I list each of those individuals I am conscious that I will miss some of the TODOS activities that each have been involved in and I apologize ahead of time.
Nora Ramirez - who’s served TODOS in a variety of ways such as founding member, president, director, and executive director over 20 years.
Susie Håkansson - who’s served TODOS in a variety of ways such as president, member services chair, e-news coordinator and editor, TEEM layout editor, NCTM representative, and sponsor of teacher awards and Salsa parties for close to 20 years.
Sylvia Celedón-Pattichis - who’s served TODOS through organizing conferences and most recently as Vice-President.
Erin Sylves - who’s served TODOS as Partner Conferences Chair, Fund Development Chair, Director, and organizing conferences.
Bernard Frost - who’s served TODOS as Partner Conferences Chair over the past 4 years.
Jon Oaks - who’s served TODOS as website manager over the past 4 years, and most recently as Member Services Chair.
Monica Gonzalez - who’s served TODOS as Secretary for the past 2 years.
I am grateful for all of the ways that TODOS members have contributed during my term as President.
As I come to the end of my term, I invite you to re-read the February 2023 e-news where I wrote that humans are in the process of unlearning colonialism and the ways that individuals and organizations might “unlearn.” I leave this writing with two quotes from authors I admire as we, individually and collectively, continue to “unlearn colonialism” as the paths that are being walked are laid down:
The late Mahatma Gandhi:
"We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.” (1913, Indian Opinion)
And the late Richard Wagamese in One Drum: Stories and Ceremonies:
“This is how you change the world….the smallest circles first.” (2019, p. 83, Douglas and McIntyre (2013) Ltd.)
With respect and in relation,
Florence
April 2024
TODOS Virtual Leadership Institute 2024
Explore Avenues of Action for Antiracist Mathematics Education!
Tuesday-Wednesday, June 4-5, 2024
9:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. PT
12:00 P.M. – 3:30 P.M. ET
2024 TODOS Board Election Results
Election voting was online only and held from February 1 through March 1, 2024. Congratulations to the newly elected TODOS Board Members:
Trevor Warburton, Vice President, 2024 - 2027
Heather B Lindfors Navarro, Director, 2024 - 2027
The Mystery Underground featuring Agnes Meyer Driscoll
April 11, 2024, at 4 PM Pacific
Presenters: Kari Jurgenson, Cynthia E. Taylor, Christa Jackson
In this webinar, we describe how teachers and teacher educators may use the mathematical contributions of Agnes Meyer Driscoll, the featured mathematician in the Powerful Mathematicians who Changed the World Grade 6-8 book, The Mystery Underground. Agnes Meyer Driscoll was a key player in foreign intelligence and a pioneer in the field of cryptology. Her contributions are highlighted throughout the story, which follows a group of middle school students who learn about Agnes Meyer Driscoll’s work and use it to create and crack secret messages throughout the story. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in mathematics related to cryptology as well as learn about ways teachers and teacher educators may use this book in their classroom. The presenters will share mathematical problem solving opportunities embedded in the story as well as supplemental resources provided with the book.
TODOS Blog on Environmental Issues
Antiracist Mathematics Education Is Now Available!
Antiracist Mathematics Education: Stories of Acknowledgment, Action, and Accountability is now available to purchase at Amazon. It includes stories grounded in the 2020 TODOS Position Statement, The Mo(ve)ment to Prioritize Antiracist Mathematics. This book reflects not only the rich experiences and deep expertise of its authors but also their passion for and commitment to creating antiracist learning environments that empower students to strengthen their mathematical identities. Review the Annotated Table of Contents. Purchase your copy today!
2023 Iris M. Carl Awardees Announcement
The 2023 Iris M. Carl Equity and Leadership Awardee is Harold Asturias. “Harold is also one of the leading experts in the Bay Area and nationally on teaching mathematics to English learners” cited one nominee. Another nominee indicated that “he is a connector who recognizes the needs of a program and the strengths of his ever-expanding group of colleagues and then matches them together to expand on and improve their collective work.” Congratulations, Harold!
The 2023 Iris M. Carl Equity in Teaching Awardee Erin Sylves. Erin Sylves received the TODOS Iris M. Carl Equity in Teaching Award. One nominator said, “She uses her role to build the capacity of school leaders and teachers to create the best learning environment possible for all students; breaking down silos and helping schools redesign systems to create equitable learning outcomes.” Another said “She did and continues to do what many find uncomfortable: confront deficit thinking in many contexts and with many educators ….” Congratulations, Erin!
