The Knowles Teacher Initiative has appointed Joel Amidon, professor of teacher education at the University of Mississippi, to its 10-person board of trustees. Amidon plans to be hands-on as the organization looks to reach a broader audience of high school teachers. Photo by Hunt Mercier/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services
Joel Amidon to govern Knowles Teacher Initiative with passion, expertise
University of Mississippi professor Joel Amidon will help oversee a national network of teachers focused on improving STEM education for students across the U.S.
Amidon, professor of teacher education and president of the Mississippi Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, has been appointed to the Knowles Teacher Initiative board of trustees. The nonprofit organization provides professional, financial and community support to more than 500 early-career high school math and science teachers.
“Teachers are the most powerful lever that we have for making change in society,” Amidon said.
“If we’re going to solve problems, we need quality math and science students.”
After years of sharing his expertise on KTI’s teaching fellowship selection committees, Amidon is excited to join the organization’s 10-person board while the organization is reimagining its fellowship program to reach more teachers.
“I’ve been on boards before where it was almost hands-off, and that’s not why I want to be on a board,” he said. “I want to be active.
“I like thinking about how we get better at doing something while maintaining some sort of core identity.”
A former high school math teacher, Amidon coordinates the UM teacher education doctoral program. He also prepares students to teach grade school math and conducts research into teaching mathematics as an unconditional act of love, or agape.
The host and co-host of several podcasts focused on improving teaching strategies, including “Amidon Planet,” Amidon is also vice president of communications and outreach for the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators.
He is collaborating on Ole Miss projects focused on helping new faculty members navigate professorship and on supporting and empowering LGBTQIA+ students.
“Joel is a giver,” said Tom Brady, chair of the teacher education department. “He’s one of those very special professors that impacts students in a deep way. They return to him for advice long after they’re done here.”
With Amidon’s accomplished career that also includes several published works and awards, Brady is comforted seeing his influence on the next wave of teachers and researchers expand.
“To see him in these leadership roles – and he has a few now – is heartwarming because that means that these organizations are going to be influenced by him, and I think it’s a good thing for all of us,” Brady said.
By Marvis Herring
