MCTM President’s Message

Posted on by

by Kristin Johnson, MCTM President

Spring has arrived, and with it comes a time of reflection and new growth.

April always feels like a season of transition—both in nature and in our work as educators. As my term as MCTM president comes to a close at the spring conference, I find myself reflecting on the incredible progress we’ve made together. MCTM has expanded professional development opportunities, launched engaging book studies, and strengthened our commitment to equity. We continue to support the implementation of the 2022 math standards, and the MCTM High School Task Force has worked hard to develop recommendations to provide valuable guidance for high schools and districts as they transform the future of mathematics. Most importantly, MCTM is listening to its members—striving to provide the resources and support you ask for and need, all through the dedication of our amazing volunteers.

The MCTM Spring Conference in Duluth on April 25-26 is shaping up to be one of our best yet! We are thrilled to welcome Howie Hua to kick off our time together, guiding us on how conceptual understanding builds within mathematical progressions. #MathTok fans, you won’t want to miss this! With an incredible lineup of sessions and presenters, there will be something for everyone. I encourage you to meet your region directors, share your ideas, and help shape the future of MCTM. Then, unwind and connect at our networking social—because learning is even more powerful when we build community. We’ll wrap up the conference on Saturday with Latrenda Knighten, NCTM president, who will share NCTM’s vision for the future of mathematics education.

As buds begin to open and flowers bloom, we are reminded of the growth happening all around us—especially in our students. This is the time of year when we see just how much they’ve accomplished. It’s also a time for our own professional growth, and the spring conference offers the inspiration and collaboration to help us finish the year strong. Engaging with new strategies, innovative teaching approaches, and fresh perspectives can spark the creativity to try something new in the classroom. Together, we can re-humanize mathematics education, empowering students to see themselves as mathematicians and maybe—even fall in love with math.

It has been an absolute honor to lead this incredible organization. Thank you for your dedication to math education and for being part of this community. I encourage you to stay involved—MCTM thrives because of its passionate members. Change is happening in education, and you have the power to be a force for positive transformation in classrooms across Minnesota.

I hope to see many of you in Duluth—let’s grow and learn together!