Commitment - Staff

The Jose Valdes Summer Math Institute has as its backbone the class teaching teams, each composed of one teacher and two program assistants. The teams are balanced for experience, gender, and ethnicity to provide students with a view of different members of their community demonstrating knowledge and success in mathematics. Each team works individually and collectively to provide for the various learning needs of each student in their classroom.

Teachers for the Valdes Institute are selected from new and experienced teachers in the elementary, middle and secondary schools in the South Bay Area. All teachers believe in the potential of the students and their ability to do mathematics. They train together, once a month, during the winter and spring, reviewing the philosophy of the Institute, exploring a variety of teaching materials and methodologies.

Program assistants are absolutely essential to the success of the students and the Institute. Each class has two program assistants who do everything necessary and possible so that the teacher can teach and the students can learn. By lowering the instructor/student ratio, students are able to get their questions answered as they occur. Program assistants are role models for the students, not just becasue they represent the ethnic goups in the area, but also because most of them are very successful in college (a few are high school seniors). Many former program assistants have completed their studies and returned to teach in the Valdes Summer Math Institute.

Staff Development

Staff development is an integral part of the success of the Valdes Institute. Teachers prepare months in advance to deliver clear mathematics instruction to their students. Teachers are trained together once a month, during winter and spring, beginning each year with a review of the philosophy of the Institute. The training is designed so teachers are empowered to make all major decisions affecting the program. A portion of each training session is also spent exploring a variety of teaching materials and methodologies. Staff development prepares teachers, like students, to experience success in mathematics.