March 2, 2009
Open letter to Superintendent Randy Dorn
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
Olympia, Washington

From: Washington Teachers of Teachers of Mathematics and Colleagues in Education

Re: Fair and inclusive mathematics education policy in Washington State

Dear Superintendent Dorn,
Congratulations on your new position. Washington Teachers of Teachers of Mathematics
(WaToToM) is a group of mathematicians, mathematics educators and teachers who have been
working together for over a decade to support the advancement of mathematics education
throughout the state and across the K-20 spectrum. We look forward to working with you to
support the teaching and learning of mathematics in the months and years ahead.
Like the rest of the country, Washington urgently needs to focus attention on improving
mathematics teaching and learning. However, in the midst of an often rancorous debate it is easy
to lose track of the progress that Washington has made. Washington fourth and eighth graders
continued to score significantly higher than the national average on the most recent National
Assessment of Educational Progress (or Nation's Report Card), both overall and among students
eligible for free and reduced lunch. Other positive developments include the efforts of WaToToM
members and our colleagues in collaborating on a broad array of professional development
initiatives designed to empower teachers to deliver high quality mathematics instruction to every
student in Washington; the partnerships of parents and educators throughout the state who are
working proactively to improve mathematics education; and the foundation for unprecedented
coordination between K-12 school districts and Washington's higher education institutions laid by
the Transition Math Project and the Washington State Educational Coordination Committee,
among others.
At the 2009 meeting of WaToToM, we discussed our great concern that recent policy decisions
have put this progress at risk. Since 2007, an education policymaking process has been in place
that supported collaborative efforts involving multiple perspectives of citizens and mathematics
professionals in our state. We are disappointed that in recent decisions it appears that the
opinions of a small number of outside consultants and vocal constituents have overridden
recommendations based on such a collaboration.
The next stage of the state’s mathematics education policy will influence the mathematics
programs that are available to students in Washington State. We believe the current process for
selecting curriculum ignores critical factors that must be included to ensure support of the best
possible mathematics programs at all levels. It is our hope that you share our values of fairness in
policymaking in order to support outcomes that will benefit all students in Washington State, now
and for generations to come. We urge you to work with WaToToM and educators around the
state as you formulate these curriculum decisions.
We request that you meet with a group of WaToToM members before making decisions based on
the forthcoming report by Strategic Teaching. In addition to this urgent meeting, we request to
participate on present and future committees concerning mathematics education policy. We also
urge that the decisions stemming from the textbook recommendation process be revisited. Thank
you for your consideration of these important issues. We look forward to a productive exchange
of views.
Respectfully submitted,
Members of Washington Teachers of Teachers of Mathematics and Colleagues in Education
Libby Knott
Professor, Mathematics Education
Department of Mathematics
Washington State University
Ksenija Simic-Muller
Mathematics Department
Pacific Lutheran University
Anita Lenges
The Evergreen State College
Chris Black
Department of Mathematics
Central Washington University
Robbin O’Leary
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Seattle Pacific University
Dr. Stephan Kinholt
Mathematics Division
Project TEACH
Green River Community College
David Slavit
Department of Mathematics/Teaching & Learning
Washington State University Vancouver
Elham Kazemi
College of Education
University of Washington
Kris Kissel, Ph.D.
Mathematics Division
Green River Community College
Robin Washam
School Improvement Facilitator
Sunnyside High School
Joyce Hammer
Department of Mathematics
Green River Community College
Keith Adolphson, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor of Mathematics Education
Mathematics Department
Eastern Washington University
Kayana Hoagland
Mathematics
South Puget Sound Community College
Celine Dorner
Department of Mathematics
Pacific Lutheran University
David Gardner
Head Teacher
Explorations in Math
Linda Bolte
Mathematics Department
Eastern Washington University
Kathleen Sullivan
Mathematics Department
Seattle University
Michael A. Lundin
Department of Mathematics
Central Washington University
Dylan Helliwell
Department of Mathematics
Seattle University
Judith M. Arms
Associate Professor of Mathematics
University of Washington
Sandra C. Cooper
Associate Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Education
Department of Mathematics
WSU
Virginia M. Warfield
Mathematics Department
University of Washington
James King
Department of Mathematics
University of Washington
Bill Marsh, PhD
Port Angeles
Jo Clay Olson
Department of Teaching and Learning
WSU
Vauhn E. Foster-Grahler
Member of the Faculty
The Evergreen State College
Sharon Camner
Mathematics Department
Pierce College
Lisa Cartwright
Teacher, Grade 4
Pullman, WA
Dr. Rena Mincks
Jefferson Elementary
Pullman, WA
Peter Wildman
Department of Mathematics
Spokane Falls Community College
Sharon Young
Department of Mathematics
Seattle Pacific University
Duane DeTemple
Professor of Mathematics
Washington State University
Deb Cummings
K-12
Ferndale
Deann Anguiano
High School Math Teacher
Kent School
Laura Moore-Mueller
Mathematics
Green River Community College
Brian T. Gill, Ph.D.
Chair, Mathematics Department
Seattle Pacific University
John Fairbairn
Principal
Eagleridge Elementary
Ferndale School District
Janet Frost
Department of Teaching and Learning
Washington State University
Dr. David Muller
Mathematics Department
Pacific Lutheran University
Shana Calaway
Department of Mathematics
Shoreline Community College
Dr. Elly Claus-McGahan
Sound Decisions Consulting
Janet Mills
Department of Mathematics
Seattle University
Steve Johnson, Ph.D.
Mathematics Department
Seattle Pacific University
Dr. Christopher S Kunkel
Department of Mathematics
Seattle University
Wynne Alexander Guy
Mathematics Department
Seattle University
Peter Littig
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
University of Washington, Bothell
Anusha Sekar
Graduate student
Dept. of Mathematics
University of Washington
Ron Irving
Department of Mathematics
University of Washington
David Neel, PhD
Department of Mathematics
Seattle University
Christopher Hoffman
Department of Mathematics
University of Washington
Monty McGovern
Department of Mathematics
University of Washington
Wai Lau, Ph.D.
Department of Mathematics
Seattle Pacific University
Ashesh Bakshi
TA, Department of Mathematics
University of Washington
Cynthia M. Sicilia
Director
Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Ferndale School District
Susan M. Holmes
Retired Principal, School Board Director
Blaine School District
Joshua Tokle
Mathematics
University of Washington
Kathy Richardson
Math Perspectives Teacher Development Center
Bellingham, WA
Beth Shoemaker
High School Math grades 9-12
Kent, WA
Russ Killingsworth
Mathematics Department
Seattle Pacific University
Dr. Jo Clay Olson
Mathematics Education
Washington State University
Andrea S. Levy, Ed.D.
Mathematics Faculty
Seattle Central Community College
Caroline A. Whitlock
Grades 9-12 at Kentlake High School
Kent
Barbara Alvin, Ph.D.
Department of Mathematics
Eastern Washington University
Nanette Im
Mathematics Department
Green River Community College
Elizabeth Weyer
Enumclaw Senior High School (9 -12)
Enumclaw, WA
Audrey Jacks
Department of Instructional Leadership
Pacific Lutheran University
Jennifer Kirk
Third Grade Teacher
Forks Elementary School
Mrs. April Tuttle
4th Grade
Forks Elementary School
Forks, WA
Barbara Neihouse
3rd Grade Teacher
Forks Elementary School
Forks, WA
Mark Roddy, Ph.D.
College of Education
Seattle University
Jo-Dell Haag
Math Department Chair
Renton High School
Renton, WA
Dr. Kimberly Vincent
Dept of Mathematics
Washington State University
Marty Imhof
4/5th grade teacher
Forks
Stacey Rae Snyder
Mathematics Teacher
Green Team Advisor
Renton High School
Donnie Hallstone
Mathematics Division
Green River Community College
Neill Warfield
4th/5th Grade Teacher
Seattle
Jo Anne Robinson
Past President, WSMC
Mathematics Coach and Consultant
Martha Bell
Title One Math
Forks
Daniel J. Heath
Associate Professor
Mathematics Department
Pacific Lutheran University
Pat Reistroffer
Multiage-First, Second and Third Grade
Kelso, Washington
Rosalyn O'Donnell
Fifth Grade
Ellensburg, WA

Cc: Edie Harding, State Board of Education
Governor Chris Gregoire
Rosemary McAuliffe (chair, Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee)
Dave Quall (chair, House Education Committee)