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Dr. Caitlin McMunn Dooley is Deputy Superintendent for Teaching and Learning for the Georgia Department of Education. She has worked as an elementary classroom teacher, teacher educator, educational researcher, and professor at Georgia State University. Since earning degrees from the University of Virginia and the University of Texas, Dr. Dooley has authored over 50 publications and led and evaluated funded research projects totaling over $250 million to investigate children’s literacy learning and instruction, digital literacies, teacher learning, and education policy. Dooley was a writer for the national Computer Science Education Frameworks and has been the principal investigator for several projects funded by the National Science Foundation for computer science education and learning technologies. She has served on several Boards, including the National Council of Teachers of English, Literacy Research Association, Georgia’s Brain Trust for Babies, the Get Georgia Reading Campaign Cabinet, and Decatur Makers. |
Dr. Carla BidwellMathematics Specialist Metro Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) |
Dr. Carla Bidwell has been an educator for 18 years, beginning her career as a high school mathematics teacher and later serving as a secondary mathematics instructional coach. Dr. Bidwell’s passion lies in understanding the roles racism and bias play in maintaining inequitable schooling experiences for marginalized youth. Her prior research examined the lived experiences of successful white teachers of African American students in hopes to better understand ways in which these teachers navigated the racial dynamics at play in their classrooms. Dr. Bidwell currently works as a secondary mathematics specialist with Metro RESA and continually strives to make schools more inclusive of all students. |
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Dr. Naomi Jessup is an assistant professor of mathematics education in the College of Education & Human Development’s Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She has more than 15 years of experience in the field of mathematics education at the K-12 and college/university levels serving as an elementary school teacher, kindergarten through eighth-grade mathematics instructional coach (school and district level) and methods course instructor. Her current mathematics education research focuses on understanding teacher learning and development–specifically teacher noticing, framing and children’s mathematical thinking. Dr. Jessup earned a Ph.D. in Educational Studies of Mathematics Education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Master of School Administration degree from Appalachian State University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has presented at local and national conferences, including American Education Research Association, Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators and the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. Additionally, her service includes reviewing journal articles for the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, Teaching Children Mathematics and conference proposals. |
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Dr. Pamela Seda has been an educator for over 30 years. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education at the University of South Florida. After completing her Master’s degree, Dr. Seda also completed her Ph.D. in Mathematics Education at Georgia State University. Her dissertation, Equity Pedagogy in the Secondary Mathematics Classrooms of Three Preservice Teachers, continues to provide an instructional framework for increasing the mathematics achievement of underrepresented groups. After working in higher education, Dr. Seda returned to K-12 education as a mathematics teacher and high school mathematics instructional coach. Since then, Dr. Seda has served in several leadership capacities, such as the Director of Secondary Mathematics for Fulton County Schools, and the Mathematics Coordinator for Atlanta Public Schools. She currently is the Mathematics Curriculum Coordinator for Griffin-Spalding County Schools. Dr. Seda has presented at numerous state and national conferences, including the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics Annual Conference, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Meeting and Exposition, the Annual High Schools That Work Staff Development Conference, and the Georgia Mathematics Conference. Dr. Seda is passionate about providing positive mathematical experiences for students who have not previously experienced mathematical success. For her, “success” is not simply passing a class, but rather being able to use mathematics as a tool to reason, analyze, communicate, and open doors of opportunity. For this reason, Dr. Seda continually seeks to help students of color experience mathematics the way she did—as something positive and empowering. |
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Dr. Walter StephensDirector of School Operations Houston County Schools |
Dr. Walter Stephens serves as the Director of School Operations in Houston County Schools. He previously served as the principal of Thomson Middle School, which was the very first Title I school to be awarded whole-school STEM certification by the Georgia Department of Education. Dr. Stephens is passionate about helping all learners meet their maximum potential and removing any obstacles and barriers that might impede learning. Dr. Stephens earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Leadership from Mercer University, a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College at Baton Rouge, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Tuskegee University. Dr. Stephens has more than a decade of experience as a building leader, and he has served as a high school principal in Twiggs County and an Assistant Principal both Bibb and Houston Counties. |
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Dr. Tommy WelchChief Equity and Compliance Officer Gwinnett County Public Schools |
Dr. Tommy Welch serves as the district’s first Chief Equity and Compliance Officer in Gwinnett County Public Schools. He previously served as principal of Meadowcreek High School. Dr. Welch provides leadership for ensuring equitable educational opportunities for all students. He facilitates the development and implementation of the district’s equity plan and oversees the alignment of that plan with all local school plans for improvement. He also collaborates with district leaders to develop and implement a systemic process for identifying and addressing inequities that impede student engagement and academic achievement while also maximizing opportunities for community engagement. In 2017, Dr. Welch was recognized as Georgia’s top principal by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals. In 2018, he was named as one of three finalists for the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)’s 2018 National Principal of the Year award.
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Panel ModeratorDr. Tamara Pearson is Associate Director of School and Community Engagement at the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing (CEISMC) at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Pearson received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Spelman College, with a minor in Computer Science, and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Educational Technology from the University of Florida. Her dissertation explored perceived understanding of gender, race, and class in discussions about technology with pre-adolescent, low-income, African American girls. Her current work focuses on partnering with schools and districts to help develop innovative curriculum and programs, as well as understanding how to best engage populations historically underrepresented in STEM fields. |
Mathematics Equity Summit Panelists
Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC)
Georgia Institute of Technology
505 10th St NW
Atlanta GA 30332-0282
Ph: 404-894-0777
Fx: 404-894-9675
