Just a few years ago an annual conference for special education and mathematics was simply a concept in the mind of John Hammett, mathematics professor at Saint Peter’s University and then president of The Association of Mathematics Teachers of New Jersey (AMTNJ). Today the AMTNJ’s Annual Special Education and Mathematics Conference is in its fifth year and continues to grow.
The AMTNJ is an affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and is an organization dedicated to promoting the learning and teaching of mathematics, at all grade levels, throughout the state. The organization seeks to facilitate mathematics education by offering various conferences, programs and other valuable resources to teachers engaged in that endeavor. While the AMTNJ hosts approximately four conferences a year, this specific conference is the only one dedicated to special education.
The special education conference, which Hammett endearingly refers to as his “baby,” was a program he developed during his presidency with the AMTNJ. “I recognized a need for support in teaching mathematics among the special education populations in all grades, K-12,” said Hammett. “Participation in the conference continues to grow, not just among mathematics teachers, but among special education teachers as well.”
This year there were approximately 475 teachers, speakers, volunteers and vendors who attended the conference, which was held at Saint Peter’s University on January 9, 2013. James Clayton, associate professor of education at Saint Peter’s University, and Hammett worked together to bring the conference to Saint Peter’s. This was the first time the conference was ever held at a higher education institution and the response was highly positive.
“Teachers from all over the state are coming to attend this conference and we received encouraging feedback about hosting the event at Saint Peter’s,” said Jeanne Maskell, executive coordinator of communications for the AMTNJ. “We received fabulous support from the student volunteers and staff.”
Students from the mathematics and education departments at Saint Peter’s University not only had a chance to volunteer to help out at the conference, but also had the opportunity to participate in the various breakout sessions, which took place throughout the day. Sessions from the conference focused on a wide range of subjects from the macro level of designing core curriculum based on state testing standards to more targeted subjects such as eliminating the frustration among students of learning fractions.
A number of renowned and significant figures in education spoke at the conference such as Peggy McDonald, director of the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special Education; Jeffrey Hauger, director of the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Assessments; as well as teachers, professors and experts from all across the country. Teachers who attended the conference were also awarded professional development certificates for their attendance.
The AMTNJ, which is now approaching its 100th anniversary, hopes to return to Saint Peter’s in the future for additional events.