News from the Western 1 Region
Denise Trakas, Western 1 Regional Director
Fall 2019

Greetings Western Region 1 NCSM members!

Fall is approaching and with the change in the season Western 1 is ramping up with events. Over summer, both Colorado and Idaho engaged in regional mathematics conferences and events.

Over the next few months Arizona, Alaska, Montana and Utah will also hold mathematics events and leadership opportunities.

Your regional team leaders have been working on revising our strategic plan for the 2019-2020 academic year. This year we are focusing on growing membership and sharing the benefits of NCSM membership. Please share NCSM with mathematics leaders that you work with or know. Reach out to your regional team leader with contact information for these individuals so that we can personally send invitations and information about the organization. We need you to help us grow our organization!

This year, your regional team leaders will also be engaging in researching and planning additional networking and learning opportunities for our region. Please reach out, introduce yourself and engage your regional team leader in a conversations about your member needs and what you have to offer!

Your Western 1 Regional Team Leaders

We are so appreciative of having these dedicated team leaders working in your state! Feel free to contact them (or me!) if you need information or have questions.

Alaska Samantha Wuttig
Arizona Kimberly Rimbey
Colorado Kelly Shank Slavik
Idaho Cory Bennett
Montana Lisa Scott
Nevada Lynn Trell
Utah Shannon Olson
Alaska Samantha Wuttig

Newsletter, e-News, e-blast, Journal? What’s the difference?

NCSM makes a great effort to keep in touch with its members through a variety of formats and delivery systems, and there is often confusion among them. Take a look at what we offer.

The NCSM Newsletter is a quarterly, electronic communication sent to members. It features articles relevant to our mission; past issues are archived on the website. Members can download or view the PDF version of the newsletter or view it in our online flipbook reader. Know that a new name for this publication may be on the horizon. This year select newsletter articles will be previewed online for member and non-member perusal. Consider submitting an article. For submission guidelines, contact the newsletter editor.

e-News is a monthly, electronic bulletin featuring timely messages and current, up-to-date NCSM news. It is available by subscription to members and nonmembers alike. Past issues are archived on the website. This is a good way to introduce prospective members to NCSM; encourage nonmember colleagues and friends to subscribe to get a taste of what we are all about. Do make sure we have a good email address for you! Get Connected! Sign up for eNews.

E-blasts are sent as needed to relate important information to members. These focused announcements, related topics, issues and/or reminders are timely and focused, yet another way we keep our members up to date. Do not ignore these messages or save them for later.

Spring 2019
Vol. 20, No. 1

The NCSM Journal of Mathematics Education Leadership

The Journal is published twice yearly. Print copies are mailed to members only; the journal is not available through subscription. Issues may be viewed on or downloaded from the website, and past issues are archived on the website. The journal addresses issues of leadership in mathematics education and reflecting a broad spectrum of formal and informal leadership at all levels. Have a comment on or reaction to an article? Readers are invited to submit letters to the editor regarding any of the articles published in the journal.

NCSM Is on Amazon

Need a publication quickly? Order it on Amazon. Publications are still available online through the NCSM Online Store. Ordering through Amazon may allow faster receipt, but only list pricing is available. To enjoy the member discount, order from NCSM online

Members, want a preview of our newest publications? Read what the regional directors had to say about the NCSM Essential Actions: Coaching in Mathematics Education (released April 2019) and NCSM Essential Actions: Instructional Leadership in Mathematics Education (released April 2019) in the fall NCSM Newsletter.

Awards and Grants

Check out the NCSM Grants! Don’t miss the opportunity to apply for the Iris Carl Travel Grant or the Teacher Leader Professional Learning Grant. In addition, you may know a wonderful colleague that you would like to nominate for the Kay Gilliland award or the Ross Taylor/Glenn Gilbert Award For more information please contact our Regional Team Leader for Alaska, Samantha Wuttig, .

Now is the time to submit those nominations and applications:

  • Kay Gilliland Equity Lecture Award
    Nominations are open through October 1, 2019.
  • Ross Taylor / Glenn Gilbert National Leadership Award
    Nominations are open through November 1, 2019.
  • Teacher-Leaders Professional Learning Grant (PreK-12)
    Applications due no later than November 1, 2019.
  • Iris Carl Travel Grant
    Applications due no later than December 1, 2019.

Have one day to spare for your professional growth? Spend the day with NCSM! The fall seminars will focus on supporting mathematics leaders to become agents of change and on improving student achievement through the framework for leadership in mathematics instruction and coaching. Join us in Tennessee or in Iowa:

NCSM Annual Meeting in Chicago

Connect. Collaborate. Commit.
March 30 – April 1, 2020; Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E. Wacker, Chicago

Registration Information

Online registration is now open for the conference. Early Bird Rate: 8/21/19 – 10/30/19

Hotel Information

Hotel reservations are now available as well.

Are you following us? We are @MathEdLeaders. Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND A LOCAL MATHEMATICS CONFERENCE

As you plan ahead for fall, here are some great opportunities to collaborate and learn in our region:

2019 Event Location
September 27th Arizona Mathematics Leaders is co-sponsoring a state pre-conference event with AATM, featuring NCSM member Nora Ramirez. Tempe, Arizona
October 16-18, 2019 NCTM Regional Salt Lake City, Utah
October 17-18, 2019 Montana Math Conference Billings, MT
October 25- 27, 2019 Alaska Conference Anchorage, Alaska
October 30 Arizona Mathematics Leaders Lunch & Learn  
December 12th Arizona Mathematics Leaders Lunch & Learn  

If you have a regional event to add to our regional calendar, please e-mail your regional team leader or myself at

NCSM AFFILIATES

Thank you to our Eastern Region 1 Affiliates of NCSM. We appreciate your affiliation with us!

  • Arizona Mathematics Leaders (AML)
  • Colorado Mathematics Leaders (CML)
  • Nevada Mathematics Education Leadership Council (N-MELC)

If you would like to join this impressive list of affiliates, contact our Affiliate Group Chair, Nanci Smith. She’d love to work with you. Let’s keep this list growing!

Please remember to: VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Please remember to vote for the president-elect and second vice president! The voting window is September 15 – October 15, 2019. Candidate information may be found on the elections page. Reminder: Per NCSM bylaws, there is to be no campaigning by or on behalf of candidates.

Thank you for being a BOLD mathematics Leader,

~Denise