NCAT Redesign Scholars in Mathematics

Betty Frost, Jackson State Community College
Jamie Glass, The University of Alabama
Phoebe Rouse, Louisiana State University
John Squires, Chattanooga State Community College
Kirk Trigsted, University of Idaho
Karen Wyrick, Cleveland State Community College

Scholar: Betty Frost
Institution: Jackson State Community College
Redesign Description: Basic Math, Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra

Betty Frost has been a member of the faculty at Jackson State Community College (JSCC) for 35 years, serving as chair of the mathematics department for over 20 of those years. She has taught math courses ranging from Basic Mathematics through Calculus III. She led the team that redesigned JSCC’s remedial and developmental math sequence that annually enrolls ~2200 students. Key features of JSCC’s redesign are mastery learning, modularization, multi-exit options, and the SMART Math Center, an emporium that accommodates 80 students. Even though she was a naysayer at the beginning of the redesign process, Betty has become genuinely committed to the concepts of course redesign and to helping others redesign their courses in ways that will best meet their needs and the need of their students. Betty earned an A.S. in mathematics from Northeast Mississippi Junior College; a B.A. in math education from the University of Mississippi and an M.S. in mathematics from Memphis State University.

Scholar: Jamie Glass
Institution: The University of Alabama
Redesign Description: Intermediate Algebra

Jamie Glass has been an instructor at The University of Alabama (UA) for 19 years and has taught all levels of freshman mathematics. Since 2001, she has managed the day-to-day operations of the Mathematics Technology Learning Center (MTLC), which serves ~9500 students per year. Jamie has been involved with course redesign since 1999 and has worked with an extraordinary group of peers to redesign all of the freshman-level math courses at UA over the last 10 years. During Jamie’s tenure, the MTLC has received a 2001 Alabama Quality Award (Judges Special Recognition), a 2008 Pearson Teaching and Technology Leadership Award and a 2009 Top Honors (Platinum) Award from the IMS Global Learning Consortium. Jamie has advised numerous colleges and universities about course redesign, offering advice about operations, policies, decisions and mistakes made at UA. She also teaches AP Calculus at a local private high school. Jamie earned a B.S. in mathematics at Jacksonville State University and an M.A. in math education at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Scholar: Phoebe Rouse
Institution: Louisiana State University
Redesign Description: College Algebra

Phoebe Rouse has been an instructor at LSU for 29 years and has taught college algebra, trigonometry, math for pre-service teachers, liberal arts math, business calculus, and teacher-training courses for graduate students. She has been the College Algebra Course Coordinator for 15 years and has received four university excellence in teaching awards. In fall 2003, Phoebe led the redesign of LSU’s college algebra course as part of NCAT’s Roadmap to Redesign program, which included constructing learning lab space for 275 students. As the Precalculus Mathematics Coordinator for the last six years, she has expanded the LSU redesign program to include 5,000 students in three courses using entirely computer-based assessments. She has contributed material to four successful textbook series, videotaped a commercial business calculus lecture series and written content for MyMathLab/MathXL software. Over the last six years, she has guided many other colleges, universities and high schools in their use of technology to redesign their courses in ways that will best meet their needs and the need of their students. Phoebe earned a B.S. in math education with a minor in speech and an M.Ed. with an emphasis in supervision and administration, both at LSU.

Scholar: John Squires
Institution: Chattanooga State Community College
Redesign Description: Basic Math, Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra (at Cleveland State Community College)

John Squires currently serves as the math department chair at Chattanooga State Community College. Prior to that, he taught math at Cleveland State Community College for 19 years and chaired the math department from 1999 to 2009. At Cleveland State, he received the 2007 Faculty Star Award for outstanding service to the institution and the 2008 Distinguished Faculty Award. John was the architect of the redesign of developmental and college-level math at Cleveland State, which won the 2009 Bellwether Award given annually by the Community College Futures Assembly. He is currently implementing course redesign throughout the entire math curriculum at Chattanooga State. John is the recipient of the League for Innovation’s 2009-2010 Cross Fellowship. John has a B.S. in economics from Iowa State University, an M.A.T. in mathematics from Drake University and an M.S. in mathematics from the University of Tennessee.

Scholar: Kirk Trigsted
Institution: University of Idaho
Redesign Description: Pre-Calculus

Kirk Trigsted has been a faculty member in the math department at the University of Idaho since 1996 and the Director of the Polya Mathematics Learning Center since 2001. The Polya Mathematics Learning Center was created in 2001 as part of NCAT’s Program in Course Redesign and began with the redesign of two large-enrollment introductory math courses, Intermediate Algebra and College Algebra. Kirk oversees a staff of 50 employees including instructors, graduate students and undergraduate students. Kirk has worked with NCAT's Roadmap to Redesign program to enable new colleges and universities to adopt mathematics redesigns. Kirk received a B.S. in Mathematics and Education from Lewis-Clark State College in 1991 and taught high school in Texas and Idaho for three years. He also received an M.S. in mathematics from the University of Idaho in 1996.

Scholar: Karen Wyrick
Institution: Cleveland State Community College
Redesign Description: Basic Math, Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra

Karen Wyrick has taught math at Cleveland State Community College since 1992. She is an outstanding instructor and has been selected by students as the college’s best instructor on more than one occasion. She was the recipient of the 2006 Faculty Star Award for outstanding service to the institution. Karen is currently the math department chair at Cleveland State and has been an active participant in the successful redesign of three developmental math courses and eight college-level math courses. Karen has a B.S. and an M.S. in mathematics from Middle Tennessee State University.