The Department of Mathematics and Statistics welcomes Julie A. Conrad as a new faculty member affiliated with the Vermont Mathematics Initiative (VMI). The VMI is a highly successful statewide content focused professional development program for in-service elementary and middle school teachers. Recently, the Department received a grant from the Vermont Agency of Education to expand the VMI from its current focus on grades K-8 to the high school level. The ultimate objective of the VMI High School program is to raise the achievement of students in the high schools and technical centers of Vermont by enhancing the mathematics knowledge and instructional capability of their teachers.

Julie Conrad will lead the development of the VMI High School Program. Julie received her BS degree from our Department (2000) in Secondary Mathematics Education. She has ten years experience as a high school teacher (Colchester High School) and most recently served as State Mathematics Coordinator for the Vermont Agency of Education. Julie has a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and has special interests in middle and high school mathematics; curriculum, assessment, and instruction; brain research; and integration of technology into K-12 student learning. At UVM, Julie starred on the varsity basketball team, still plays City League basketball, and is active in the Burlington Rugby Club. Julie lives in South Burlington and has three children.  

In the words of Ken Gross, VMI Director, “Julie is widely respected across all Vermont stakeholders in education, including the government, academic, and private sectors. She is an expert on the national Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) that have been adopted by all but five states and is intimately knowledgeable on their implementation in Vermont. Julie is the ideal person to lead the expansion of VMI to the high school level and her knowledge of the needs of high school mathematics teachers and high school students will be invaluable to the Department.”

Julie Conrad had the following to say about joining our Department, “I am excited and humbled to join a great Department and thrilled to be joining the VMI program. The success of the K-8 program has been shown to have a profound impact on the content knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, and the instructional practices of the teachers enrolled in this program. The impact of the K-8 program has shown to have a positive correlation to success for all students, including our most vulnerable students (low socioeconomic and special education). Our goal with the expansion of the program is to build on the legacy of the K-8 program and create an equivalent impact on the practices and knowledge of our high school teachers. I look forward to utilizing the expertise and talents of the Department in the development of this program so that we can positively impact the preparation and achievement of Vermont high school graduates.”