Keynotes

Kevin Dykema is President of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), an international mathematics education organization with more than 30,000 members.  He has taught 8th grade mathematics for over 25 years and is currently at Mattawan Middle School in southwest Michigan. 

Dykema was actively involved with the Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM) before his serving a three-year term on the NCTM Board of Directors from 2016 to 2019.  He served as a regional director for MCTM and later as the organization’s conference chair for six years.  He also co-founded an annual conference focused on students with disabilities in mathematics, which he has co-chaired since 2015.  For his service he received MCTM’s Regional Directors Award in 2007 for outstanding contributions and leadership in mathematics education as well as the organization’s Service Award in 2014.

Dykema is a frequent speaker before mathematics education audiences and has co-authored Productive Math Struggle, published by Corwin.  He has also written several articles for Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK-12.  Dykema loves working with others to help improve mathematics education for each and every student.

Kevin Dykema received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Calvin University with a major in mathematics and he earned a secondary mathematics certification.  He earned a Master of Arts in Mathematics Education from Western Michigan University, where he has also taught courses for preservice teachers.  He received an Alumni Achievement Award from Western Michigan University in 2019.

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Keynote: Increasing Opportunities for Students in Mathematics

What policies, processes and practices need to be examined to increase student opportunities during and after their PK-12 education?  Let’s identify the purposes of learning math, consider the existing structures and what changes should be made, examine how to equitably teach mathematics, and help our students see themselves as capable of learning mathematics. 

Dr. Jennifer Bay-Williams is author of Math Fact Fluency and the Figuring out Fluency book series (an anchor book with 6 classroom companion books), the iconic Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally and many other books and articles. Jennifer is a leader in mathematics education, advocating for educators to re-define fluency and implement practices that are more effective in terms of learning and developing positive mathematics identities for our students. She has served on the board of directors for National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and TODOS: Mathematics for ALL, and as president of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE). She is a popular speaker, working with organizations and districts across the U.S. and around the world. She works at the University of Louisville, where her daughter is becoming a teacher, and lives nearby with her husband, son, and lots of pets, flowers, and trees.

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Keynote: Who’s on First? and Other Lessons on Effective Questioning from Abbott & Costello

Perhaps the most famous comedy skit of all time, but Who knew (pun intended) that Abbott and Costello’s team of players offer keen insights into effective and equitable mathematics teaching? In this interactive keynote, we will explore each position and consider what role that player has in contributing to preparing students who are competent and confident mathematical learners.