The Walter Denham Memorial Award
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Advocacy for Mathematics Education
The Walter Denham Memorial Award: Advocacy for Mathematics Education is presented to a person who is
recognized as an advocate for mathematics education. This person
has demonstrated, over an extended period of time, an advocacy for
leadership, curriculum, assessment, and quality mathematics education,
as well as a broad knowledge and deep beliefs about the myriad of
issues related to mathematics education. In addition, this person
exhibits many of the following attributes:
- A champion of excellence in the teaching and learning of mathematics,
- Encouragement
of rational and critical discussions about issues in mathematics while
using accurate and comprehensive data to support a position,
- High respect of others, even those who may have different opinions, and
- Steadfastness in the face of adverse circumstances.
Who was Walter Denham?
Walter Denham was born and raised in Miami, Florida, the son of postal
workers. He received an undergraduate degree in physics form Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute, in Troy, New York in 1956 and his doctorate in
applied mathematics from Harvard University in 1963. After teaching at
the State University of New York at Stony Brook and Venderbilt
University, he came to Claremont in Southern California in 1971 to work
at the National Program for Education Leadership. Walter became
involved in public school administration and joined state government in
1972. He served in several capacities under state Superintendent of
Public Instruction Wilson Riles Sr. From 1983 to 1998 Walter Denham was
the statewide supervisor of mathematics education at the California
Department of Education. During this period, Walter was unbending in
his role as champion of reforming mathematics education in California.
He initiated and supported programs that were related to
- the development, selection, and implementation of new kinds of curriculum materials,
- the professional development of teachers and teacher leaders, and
- the creation and use of innovative assessments.
He was a real trailblazer who significantly changed mathematics education in California and the country.
His wife of 46 years, Ann, said Walter’s other passion was his family.
“We may be the only family in the world that would sit at the table for
dinner doing math problems,” she said. “And the kids would say, ‘Give
us another one, Daddy! Give us another!’ ”
Walter died suddenly, shortly after making his 2002 Palm Springs
presentation and finishing preparation for his Asilomar
presentation. This award was established in 2004 by the
California Mathematics Council in honor this great man of vision, our
friend, Walter Denham.
Previous recipients of the Walter Denham Memorial Award are:
- 2005: Bill Jacob
- 2007: Steve Rasmussen
If you would like to nominate a person
who fulfills the qualifications listed above, send the following
information by November 1. Note that, unlike our
Polya and Begle awards, this person does not necessarily have to be a
matheamtics educator or a CMC member.
Walter Denham Award Nomination
- Information on the Nominee
- Name
- Home Address, City and zip
- Home Phone
- Position
Additional information is needed to help gather background information in support of the nomination.
- Information on the Nominator and Supporters
- Your name
- Phone, Email
- Contact1 Name
- Phone, Email
- Contact2 Name
- Phone, Email
- Supply Additional Contacts if possible
RETURN BY November 1 TO:
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This Page was last updated: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 4:14:12 PM
This page was originally posted: 7/26/2004; 10:38:26 AM.
Copyright 2008 cmcmath
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