Virginia Council of Mathematics Specialists

Virginia Council of Mathematics Specialists (VACMS)

The Virginia Council of Mathematics Specialists ( VACMS ) is a professional organization supporting the work of school based mathematics specialists and mathematics teacher leaders. The purpose of the VACMS shall be to:

• • Support mathematics specialists as professional school-based mathematics leaders.
  •  Advocate for effective, rigorous, equitable, mathematics instruction.
  •  Promote collegial collaboration among the organization members.
  •  Collaborate with mathematics organizations at the local, state, and national levels to provide professional learning opportunities for mathematics specialists.

In 2012, VACMS began holding an annual conference for Mathematics Specialists.  Past conferences are as follows:

Coaching for Balance and Connected Mathematics, Culpeper, VA
September 29-30, 2016

The goal of the 2016 5th Annual VACMS conference was for mathematics specialists and teacher leaders to enhance their toolkit so they can support teaching for Mathematical Proficiency; understanding, computing, reasoning, applying, and engaging. Conference strands included:

• Implementing Revised SOL: Providing Support for Teachers in a Transition Year
•  Applying Learning Progressions: Guiding Instructional Practices and Formative Assessment
• Refining Coaching Skills: Optimizing Mathematics Specialist Roles

Students Thinking and Engaging in Mathematics, Hampton, VA
September 24-25, 2015

Advocating Appropriate Applications, Culpeper, VA
September 25-26, 2014

The third annual Virginia Council of Mathematics Specialists (VACMS) conference provided an opportunity for school-based mathematics specialists and mathematics teacher leaders to network and gain new ideas to enhance their work with elementary and middle school teachers through coaching, professional learning communities, and other school-based professional development. Principals were welcome to register for this conference. The 121 attendees included six building level administrators were able to attend up to six sessions during the two days of the conference. In addition, Michael Bolling, Director for Mathematics and Governor’s Schools at the Virginia Department of Education was the keynote speaker at the conference. He shared information about ways a mathematics specialist can effectively support teachers in their schools to improve student learning and increase student achievement.