Math for America Announces 2009 Cohort
Largest Number to Enter MƒA Fellowship and Master Teacher Fellowship in Program History

(NEW YORK) September 21, 2009 – Math for America (MƒA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to significantly improving mathematics education in US secondary public schools, welcomes 114 new members to its 2009 cohort. This marks the largest recruitment year for Math for America’s programs, which include the MƒA Fellowship and Master Teacher Fellowship.

MƒA Fellowship
90 Fellows were admitted into the MƒA Fellowship in four sites across the nation. The MƒA Fellowship is a five-year program where recent college graduates and mid-career professionals make a commitment to teach math in public schools. During the first year, Fellows earn a master’s degree from MƒA partner colleges or universities. The remaining four years are spent teaching at public secondary schools. The MƒA Fellowship includes a full tuition scholarship, annual stipends of up to $100,000 over five years, in addition to a full time teacher’s salary, and mentoring and professional development services.

The 2009 Fellows are kicking off their program experience at MƒA sites, which include:

• New York, NY: 60 joined the MƒA NY Fellowship. As Math for America’s pilot program launched in 2004, MƒA NY placed Fellows in partner schools Bard College, New York University and Teachers College, Columbia University.
• Los Angeles, CA: 14 were added to the MƒA LA Fellowship program, launched in 2008, with Fellows attending Claremont Graduate University or the University of Southern California in their first program year.
• San Diego, CA: 10 were admitted to the MƒA SD Fellowship program, which was launched in 2008. MƒA SD Fellows are beginning their first year at California State University San Marcos, San Diego State University or the University of California, San Diego.
• Washington, DC: 6 entered the MƒA DC Fellowship in the program’s first year, with Fellows attending partner school American University.

MƒA Master Teacher Fellowship
Math for America added 24 Master Teachers to the New York program this year, up from 19 the prior year. The MƒA Master Teacher Fellowship rewards exceptional secondary school math teachers with a four-year Fellowship in New York City public schools. The Master Teacher Fellowship includes annual stipends of up to $60,000 over four years, professional development and leadership opportunities and support for mathematical and educational interests.

“Math for America recognizes and addresses two key issues in education today – the need to retain teachers, not merely recruit them, and the need to have teachers who know their content, inside and out,” said John Ewing, president of Math for America. “At MƒA, we work to train, retain and reward our highly qualified math teachers. Our 2009 cohort of Fellows and Master Teachers are inspiring, dedicated and talented individuals, and we look forward to growing the program further.”

About Math for America
Founded in 2004 by a group of mathematicians, business people and educators, Math for America (MƒA) is a private nonprofit organization with a mission to improve math education in US public secondary schools by recruiting, training and retaining outstanding mathematics teachers. With sites in Los Angeles, New York City, San Diego and Washington, DC, MƒA offers two programs: the MƒA Fellowship, to increase the number of mathematically talented individuals entering the teaching profession, and MƒA Master Teacher Fellowship, to support outstanding mathematics teachers already in the classroom. Both programs provide professional development training and generous stipends for a corps of highly qualified math teachers dedicated to improving student performance and achievement. For more information, visit www.mathforamerica.org.