The Los Angeles City Teachers of Mathematics Association held an election for officers and its board of directors. Terms are staggered so some of these are for two years, others for one.

The results follow. Thank you for your inteest.

Below are the statements of those who were elected as officers. Please click here for the statements of those who ran for a position on the Board of Directors. 

I'm Janet Bryson and I am excited for the opportunity to run for the LACTMA board-president position. I remember fondly, as a high school math teacher in the 80's, doing my first presentation to colleagues at a LACTMA conference. Since then I've taught almost every high school math course from General Math through AP Calc BC, spent a year as a visiting high school lecturer at UCLA, and a year teaching Math in Mali, West Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer. I've worked as math coach with middle and high school teachers for the TASEL-M 5-year grant, and provided professional learning opportunities around the country. I love collaborating with teachers, new and experienced, to sharpen our skills together. Current technology makes it even easier for all of us to share our expertise and passion with each other--working smarter, not harder.

My vision for LACTMA is an organization that celebrates the impact of successful learning experiences, that offers resources and encouragement when students don't learn, that stimulates and challenges its members to learn and refine their practice, and that provides a place of community for LA's math educators. We have so much to offer one another and our students as we continue to learn and grow together. 

Our challenges are great and the stakes are very high; and yet, never before have we had the knowledge on how the brain learns, what instructional practices have the greatest impact, or the technological tools we have now. Ken Blanchard states "None of us is as smart as all of us." My vision is LACTMA as a way for all of us to benefit from our shared "smarts."

At the recent NCSM conference in San Diego, Mike Schmoker inspired many of us with a challenge for unprecedented results, not through amazing new technology or expensive programs, but through a focus on good curricula, best practices that engage every student in higher order thinking, and using the results received to refine what we do so every child really does learn. Exploring mathematics is stimulating, fun, elegant even. Exploring math and how to make it all that and accessible for our students with colleagues and friends makes it more stimulating, fun, elegant, accessible, and efficient! Let's build on LACTMA's strong foundation of supporting teachers to create a venue for teachers to learn, to explore, to grow, to brainstorm, to create, and to enjoy being math teachers together.

My name is Tere Hirsch and I am running for the office of secretary. Before my retirement in 2007, I spent 35 years as a math teacher/coach/mentor in the Montebello Unified School District. I also served out of the classroom as math leader for 3 years. My goal was to build a culture of collaboration and communication among our K-12 math teachers. By establishing a district math leadership committee, we were able to share best practices and set common goals. This committee is still going strong and has allowed teachers to have input in the creation and implementation of pacing guides and benchmarks.

I have been a member of LACTMA, CMC, and NCTM. I have presented at several conferences for these organizations. My career has always involved teaching English language learners and my passion has been the techniques and strategies that help them succeed in mathematics.

As a member of the UCLA Mathematics Project, I've been involved in mentoring activities with teachers and parents in many districts.

Since 1999 I have been an instructor for the UCLA Math Content Program for Teachers. Again, this has brought me in contact with several districts in Southern California.

Recently, I have been an instructor for SB472 state math textbook training for teachers through the Los Angeles County Office of Education. I have trained teachers in several districts from Palmdale to Long Beach.

I have also served on several panels for the State Board of Education in Sacramento, ranging from teacher credentialing to setting cut scores for the CST.

I feel that I'm ready to settle in and work with our region leaders and "rev up" our LACTMA organization for the benefit and support of our teachers and students. During these difficult times we need to help teachers deal with the task of reaching all students through efficient, worthwhile methods. I am committed to this end and look forward to serving as secretary.

Carol Schmidt 

The Los Angeles City Teachers Mathematics Association has been an important force in LAUSD for more than 40 years. I'm proud to acknowledge that the conferences, with a variety of workshops and sessions, have helped build the mathematics knowledge of so many teachers in that time. It has fostered enthusiasm for teaching and been an instrument for communication between teachers.

LACTMA has also provided a forum for recognizing the achievements of mathematics teachers at the school sites. The Annual Recognition Dinner has been a night of fun and a time for schools to nominate and present the various ways that teachers have helped students achieve in mathematics.

I have been a member of LACTMA since 1972. I served on the LACTMA Board of Directors for 15 years, from 1973 to 1988. During that time, I was editor of The Calculator, LACTMA's periodic publication; was in charge of Conference Pre-Registration; and presented at the LACTMA Conferences.  In the ensuing years, I have been a presenter at many of the conferences.

I would like your vote for Treasurer of LACTMA, so I can serve again.