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Wednesday, November 29, 2023

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Nadine Bezuk with her AMTE award. Nadine Bezuk with her AMTE award.
 


New Award Named in Honor of Math Education Professor

Nadine Bezuk received the inaugural Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators award for Excellence in Leadership and Service.
By Samantha Afetian
 

Nadine Bezuk, professor in the School of Teacher Education and associate director of the SDSU Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education, has received an Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE) award named in her honor.

Last month, the AMTE renamed the Excellence in Learning and Service Award to the Nadine Bezuk Excellence in Learning and Service Award for her extraordinary contributions over the past two decades. The organization gave a special inaugural award to Bezuk, who was astonished by the gesture.

“I was surprised and extremely honored to be recognized in this way,” Bezuk said. “It’s humbling that my name will be forever attached to this award that will recognize the amazing contributions of my colleagues to our field.”

Long-term service to the organization

The award was renamed in honor of Bezuk’s 17 years of service on the AMTE Board. She has served as president, treasurer and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics representative. She has been the executive director since 2001.

During her time on the board, the AMTE has become a member of the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences, established a monograph series and a journal, and has expanded membership from 500 members to about 1,200.

As an active member in the education community, Bezuk has made numerous contributions to the field of mathematics education. She has co-authored several mathematics textbooks for elementary and middle schools, with a new one released this year. She has also contributed to designing two mathematics specialist certificates that enable elementary school teachers to deepen their knowledge about mathematics teaching.

Contributions to the field

Bezuk served as part of the advisory panel that made recommendations for California's recently adopted math specialist certificate and credential programs.

For those contributions and her dedication to the field, Bezuk has earned respect from her peers.

“Nadine Bezuk is thought of by those with whom she works as professional, thoughtful, dependable, efficient, collaborative, and perhaps most of all, kind and supportive,” said AMTE President Barbara Reys during her presentation of the award.

“Those who work closely with her also realize that she can engage in complex, problem-solving discussions on various committees, while knitting!”

About AMTE

AMTE is the largest professional organization devoted to the improvement of mathematics teacher education — it includes more 1,000 members devoted to the education and professional development of K-12 teachers of mathematics.