Hello!
As president of the Oregon Council of Teachers of Mathematics I would like to say that if you are reading this, you must be aware of the power that people can have when they are working together to accomplish a common goal. The best way to become involved in promoting quality mathematics education in Oregon is to say "yes" to opportunities offered through OCTM. The Oregon Mathematics Teacher (TOMT) publication keeps you updated on all of these opportunities. Just do it!
Before I graduated from Pacific University in 1982, I was assigned the best student teaching job possible — right next door to now Past-OCTM President, Mathematics Hall of Fame member, Jim Specht. Although he was not officially my supervising teacher, he officially became my mentor for the next 28 years (and still going). He introduced me to OCTM and all of the people and opportunities that came along with it. To this day, I can’t thank him enough for being the greatest influence in my path of professional growth. If everyone had a Jim, I think we would have education figured out.
My teaching career started at Neil Armstrong Middle School where I evolved from assigning drill and practice problems from a textbook, to facilitating conceptual learning using visual mathematics, technology, communication and problem solving. I had LOTS of help from the wonderful leaders who were sharing this information as well as the quality resources and professional development that were available at that time. There were many opportunities to be involved then, just as there are now. I said, “yes!” often.
In 1992 I completed my Master of Science in Teaching at Portland State University, where I was continuously encouraged by Marj Enneking and her cohorts to keep on saying, "yes, yes yes!" There, again, I had connections with incredibly influential people and programs that were molding my teaching to be student and problem solving centered. NCTM president Mike Shaughnessy was one of those who threw lots of reasoning and sense-making ideas in my direction “way back when.”
As a board member of OCTM, I have had the honors of being area representative, NCTM representative, co-chair for the Oregon Math Leaders conference, a writer for TOMT, and now president. My mentor would often say to me, “the difference between a dreamer and a doer is a decision”. The beginning of my dream seems to have been decided. My next decision is to give back the gifts that I have received from my OCTM community to the best of my ability.
Marge Burak
265 NE 70th St
Newport, OR 97365
maggieraye@charter.net
