Dallas ISD Chief Academic Officer to receive award for 'outstanding contributions' to STEM education

The Research in Mathematics Education unit at Southern Methodist University has named Dallas ISD Chief Academic Officer Ivonne Durant as the recipient of its Impact in Leadership Award.

SMU stated they selected Durant for her “outstanding contributions to policy, research and practice in STEM Education.”

“Of particular note, this year’s conference theme focuses on access and equity,” states a letter from the Research in Mathematics Education (RME) unit. “(Durant’s) relentless efforts to ensure all students have access to high-quality STEM educational opportunities is inspiring.”

The criteria for nomination and selection for the award was quite rigorous, and included the following:

• • Demonstrated commitment to cultivating the research-to-practice relationship through contributions to policy, research, and/or practice;

• • Demonstrated commitment to supporting teachers’ professional practices and students’ STEM proficiency through leadership;

• • Innovative thinking focused on supporting teachers and systems through a change process to improve student outcomes;
  • Demonstrated commitment to supporting systems-level implementation of data informed decision making.

SMU and RME will honor Durant at their Research-to-Practice Conference happening Feb. 8.