The mission of Math for America is to improve mathematics education in US public secondary schools by recruiting, training and retaining outstanding mathematics teachers. Our goal is to increase the number of mathematically talented individuals entering teaching and to support those outstanding mathematics teachers already in the classroom.

Our vision is to dramatically change mathematics and science education over the next decade throughout America in order to keep our country competitive. While we hope to launch secondary school students into careers in mathematics and science, we also want students to become successful professionals who know and use mathematics in the world.

Math for America was created to serve as a national education model and to ensure that public secondary school students receive the best possible mathematics education.

Our Beliefs

Knowing mathematics is important: Inspiring students is the goal.
One has to know a subject in order to teach it, particularly mathematics. Our goal is to have knowledgeable and creative teachers – teachers who inspire students with their own enthusiasm and love of mathematics.

Mentoring is important: Making teachers professionals is the goal.
New teachers often cite that they leave the field due to a lack of professionalism and support. By providing a network of resources for new teachers and fostering interactions within a corps of like-minded individuals, we treat teachers as highly regarded professionals.

Money is important: Prestige is the goal.
Low beginning teacher salaries in a challenging environment lead many people to view teaching as a thankless profession. By awarding stipends, we add prestige to the profession by recognizing talented and knowledgeable teachers in a tangible and public way.

Recruitment is important: Retention is the goal.
It is important to bring new, outstanding teachers into the profession, but we are wasting our effort if more than one-third leave after just a few years. We must make teaching a highly regarded profession that keeps its passionate and dedicated new practitioners teaching beyond a few years. We must reward and honor master teachers so that new or prospective teachers can aspire to their level of achievement.
 

In order for America to succeed in the 21st century, we must continue to invent and innovate as a nation, and we know that high quality mathematicians, scientists and engineers are crucial for that to happen. That is why we work to nurture and develop the best mathematics teachers who will prepare, train and inspire the next generation.