Keynote and Featured Speakers


Keynote Speakers


images of Grace Kelemanik and Amy Lucenta

Grace Kelemanik and Amy Lucenta, co-founders of Fostering Math Practices, have extensive K-12 mathematics experience with a focus on developing mathematical thinking in all students, particularly in historically marginalized students. As former classroom teachers, coaches, and pre-service educators, they support teachers, districts, and educational collaborative organizations to transition their curriculum and pedagogy to reflect current mathematics education research through professional development and coaching. Currently, Amy serves on the NCSM Board as a Regional Director and Grace is a member of the NCTM Board of Directors. Grace and Amy are co-authors of Routines for Reasoning: Fostering Mathematical Practices in All Students and Teaching for Thinking: Fostering Mathematical Teaching Practices through Reasoning Routines. Follow them both on BlueSky @GKelemanik @AmyLucenta



Featured Speakers



image of Jennifer Bay-Williams
Dr. Jennifer Bay-Williams
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Math Education, University of Louisville

Dr. Jennifer Bay-Williams is an international leader in mathematics education. She has authored over 30 mathematics education books, including Math Fact Fluency, Figuring out Fluency book series, and the iconic Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally. Her efforts focus on ensuring that every student develops competence and confidence in mathematics. At the University of Louisville, she co-coordinates the Elementary Math Specialist Program (with Dr. Marin).

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Dr. Dee Crescitelli
Assistant Professor, Mathematics Education, University of Louisville

Dee Crescitelli is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Elementary Mathematics Education at the University of Louisville, bringing 32 years of experience in education from several states. She also serves as a Faculty Associate with the Kentucky Center for Mathematics after serving for nine years as a Regional Consultant and then Director. Her teaching experience ranges from elementary through graduate school, adult education, and teacher preparation- threading real numeracy and love of mathematics through all those levels. Dee is invested in sharing the beauty that can be found in the mathematics of every day life.

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Dr. Kanita DuCloux
Associate Professor of Mathematics Education and the Chair of the Mathematics Department, Western Kentucky University

Dr. Kanita DuCloux is an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education and the Chair of the Mathematics Department at Western Kentucky University. With over 30 years of experience in education, she has served as a secondary mathematics teacher, college mathematics instructor, and mathematics teacher educator across Ohio, Alabama, Georgia, and Kentucky. Her research aims to enhance the preparation and professional development of both prospective and practicing mathematics teachers, focusing on teaching diverse student populations and exploring mathematics teachers' reasoning, practices, and beliefs.

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Dr. Funda Gonulates
Associate Professor, Northern Kentucky University

Dr. Funda Gonulates is an Associate Professor of Math Education at Northern Kentucky University. She has 22 years of experience in Education as a K-8 mathematics teacher, mathematics teacher leader, curriculum developer, and a mathematics teacher educator in Turkey, Michigan, and Kentucky.




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Dr. Sarah Kasten
Associate Professor of Mathematics Education, Department of Teacher Preparation and Educational Studies, Northern Kentucky University

Dr. Sarah Kasten is an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Teacher Preparation and Educational Studies at Northern Kentucky University. She has over 20 years of experience as a secondary mathematics teacher and teacher educator across Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky. Her research aims to enhance the preparation of middle and secondary mathematics prospective teachers. Most recently she has studied how the use of practice-based educative mentoring enhances the mentoring practice of mentor teachers working with prospective middle and secondary mathematics teachers in clinical experiences.

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Dr. Kate Marin
Assistant Professor, University of Louisville

Dr. Kate Marin is an Assistant Professor of Math Education and co-coordinator of the Elementary Math Specialist program at the University of Louisville. She has over 20 years of experience in education as a K-8 mathematics teacher, coach, and coordinator, and a mathematics teacher educator in Massachusetts and Kentucky. Her research explores mathematics teacher education practices and the development of mathematical knowledge for teaching.

image of Bethany Noblitt
Dr. Bethany Noblitt
Professor of Mathematics, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Northern Kentucky University

Dr. Bethany Noblitt is a Professor of Mathematics in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Northern Kentucky University. She has over 25 years of experience in education as a secondary mathematics teacher and mathematics teacher educator in Kentucky. Dr. Noblitt’s past research focused on how playing the believing game can affect mathematics classroom discourse. Her current research explores how upper-level mathematics content courses influence the teaching of secondary mathematics.

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Dr. Jonathan Thomas
Professor of Math Education and Chair of the STEM Education Department, University of Kentucky

Dr. Jonathan Thomas is a Professor of Math Education and Chair of the STEM Education Department at the University of Kentucky. He has worked in mathematics education for over 20 years including service as an elementary and middle level teacher as well as intervention specialist. His research explores children's development of foundational numeracy and responsive teaching practices in the mathematics classroom. Dr. Thomas has authored numerous research publications in these areas and recently co-authored the book, Teaching Mathematics Conceptually.