Math For America Inc

Programs: Fellowship programs: mfa is an organization committed to teachers. Our goal is to inspire outstanding professionals to stay in the classroom and to amplify their impact throughout their career. -fellowships: we offer four-year fellowships for accomplished nyc public school mathematics and science teachers, creating opportunities for their professional and intellectual growth. Our fellowships provide an enormous array of professional learning opportunities and resources, while bringing together a community of expert teachers who share a passion for mathematics or science. -professional community: we believe participation in a professional community is critical to sustain teachers in their classroom work. Throughout each fellowship mfa teachers engage in numerous learning opportunities together. They meet regularly both professionally and socially, online and in person, building strong professional relationships that they otherwise would not have. They explore common themes to develop new skills and strategies for their practice. -professional growth: though our fellowships, mfa teachers deepen their own content knowledge, refine and expand their skills as pedagogues, and examine the best ways to teach every student in their classrooms. Mfa teachers engage in a wide range of high quality, stem-focused professional courses and events much of it designed by and for the teachers themselves throughout the school year. -professional recognition: teachers in our fellowships are impressive professionals, and we elevate their achievements to build the respect, trust, and recognition they deserve. We provide stipends to teachers, honor them through special events, and offer opportunities to share their voices both locally and nationally. In all these ways, we celebrate not only our teachers but the teaching profession.

extending our model: our goal is to see the mfa fellowship model replicated across the country and recognized for its ability to retain and attract the very best mathematics and science teachers. To that end, we are creating a network of similar programs across the country. At mfa we advocate for teachers across new york city and beyond, to be respected and trusted as professionals and to have access to a meaningful professional community where their voices are prominent. We want our fellowships to change the way we think about teaching in america.

advocacy: our fellowship program is based on specific values, which we see as the heart of our organization and advocate to other states and cities. Teaching is a true profession. It is often forgotten that teaching is the most important profession, the one that makes all other professions possible. A life-long teaching career is a prestigious accomplishment. We have enormous respect for teachers as expert professionals and as mathematicians and scientists. We honor their skills, creativity, and drive every day. Great teachers are always learning. Teacher quality is the foundation for student success. The best teachers strive to grow continually in three areas: their depth of content knowledge, their expertise in the craft of teaching, and their ability to know and teach to the strengths of every student in their classrooms. Excellence comes out of deep collaboration and ongoing growth. When excellent teachers come together within a community, with intention, and over a sustained period, they learn from each other, innovate instruction, and bring new ideas to their classrooms. Professional communities that are built on teacher-to-teacher collaboration leads to new ideas and practices that advance the profession overall. Accomplished teachers are trusted as professionals that they are. We not only respect teachers, we trust them to curate their own professional learning goals. Outstanding teachers know their students best and know what they need to grow as professionals. We empower them to take advantage of opportunities that make their professional lives richer and more rewarding, and recognize them as experts in their field. Honoring greatness elevates the profession. When we celebrate, recognize, and advocate for teachers, we elevate the profession, encouraging the best teachers to create life-long, meaningful careers in the classroom and attracting the best possible candidates to the profession. Above all, we work to change the way we talk about teachers and teaching.