HARRISBURG, PA. -- Penn State Harrisburg’s School of Behavioral Sciences and Education has recently been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to offer a Mathematics Coach Endorsement program.
Mathematics coaches are teachers with strong preparation and background in mathematics, instructional strategies and school leadership. They are responsible for supporting the professional growth of fellow teachers and administrators, as well as promoting enhanced mathematics instruction and student learning throughout their school by helping to strengthen classroom teachers’ understanding of mathematics and develop more effective teaching practices.
“The Mathematics Coach Endorsement program focuses on preparing mathematics coaches to have the content and leadership expertise needed to support K through 12 mathematics teachers,” said Jane Wilburne, associate professor of mathematics education.
“The program requires candidates to complete advanced coursework to enhance their knowledge and understanding of these topics, as well as the ideas and frameworks involved in mathematical learning paths," she said. "It also includes instructional content knowledge needed to support classroom mathematics teachers and facilitate complex discussions of and students’ learning of mathematics.”
After completing the program, mathematics coaches should be knowledgeable about mathematics curricula, effective approaches to using technology, and research addressing how students learn mathematics. The mathematics coach endorsement is added to a teacher’s existing certification.
Four courses will be required to complete the program at Penn State Harrisburg, including Geometry and Measurement Across the Curriculum, Algebra and Functions Across the Curriculum, Data Analysis and Probability Across the Curriculum, and Numbers and Operations Across the Curriculum. The courses are offered in a blended format of face-to-face and online.
The Mathematics Coach Endorsement program may be taken alone or in conjunction with Penn State Harrisburg’s Master’s of Education in Teaching and Curriculum or the Principal Certification Program.
For more information, visit the program website or contact Jane Wilburne at jmw41@psu.edu.