MEC leaders, Ruth Parker (CEO) and Patty Lofgren (Director of Professional Development) and course instructors are all dedicated to making MEC’s vision and mission a reality. They each have years of successful experience as classroom teachers and extensive experience working with adults. Their knowledge of mathematics, how children learn mathematics, and pedagogical content knowledge enrich MEC sessions and materials development.

Melissa Adams, MEC Consultant and Independent Consultant. Melissa is currently consulting on formative assessment. Before retirement in 2008, she helped lead the Silicon Valley Mathematics Initiative (SVMI) including the creation and administration of the second grade Mathematics Assessment Resource Service (MARS) Performance Assessment. She then analyzed student work from this assessment to create Tools for Teachers, a teacher resource. Beginning in 1989, she taught in primary grade classrooms, and since 1998 worked as a content coach. Melissa also supported member districts and teachers with professional development sessions and content coaching throughout the school year.

Sue Harding, MEC consultant and elementary teacher. Sue has taught third through sixth grades in Kalispell, Montana since 1974. In 1992, Sue received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science. She began facilitating summer mathematics in-service courses for K-8 teachers in 1993.

Cathy Humphreys, MEC consultant and high school mathematics teacher. Cathy has almost 30 years of experience as a teacher of grades 2-11. She spent over eight years as a middle school mathematics coach and has been active in professional development for teachers throughout her career, both as an in-service leader at the local, state, and national levels and as an instructor for pre-service secondary mathematics teachers in the Stanford Teacher Education Program. In 2005, Cathy was the Professional Development Director of the Silicon Valley Mathematics Initiative, a collaborative of over 30 school districts with 60 mathematics coaches. She is the co-author of two books: A Collection of Math Lessons for Grades 6-8, with Marilyn Burns, and, most recently, Connecting Mathematical Ideas: Middle School Video cases of Teaching and Learning with Jo Boaler. Currently Cathy works as a part of the MEC team in long-term support of teacher leaders.

Lisa Mesple, MEC consultant, elementary teacher, and math specialist. Lisa has 25 years experience teaching kindergarten through fifth grades in Boulder, Colorado as well as providing professional development for teachers.  She is currently responsible for training and supporting 500 teachers in using, analyzing, and interpreting interview assessments.  Lisa has been a leader at both the district and state levels. She is a recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Fellowship from the American Association of University Women and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science.

Sherry Parrish, MEC consultant and elementary math coach.  Sherry is a native of Birmingham, Alabama and began her education career in 1979 where she taught intermediate grades during the majority of her career.  In her current role she provides math professional development, assists in curriculum development and implementation, and develops district assessments. Sherry is a national board certified teacher and a recipient of the 1997 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

Leslie Salkeld, MEC consultant. Leslie teaches MEC content courses and provides leadership development support within MEC partner communities. Prior to retiring from teaching, Leslie taught grades K-3 for 27 years. During her teaching career, she also led in-service workshops in mathematics and early childhood mathematics at both the state and national levels. She also taught mathematics and mathematics education courses at Western Washington University.
 
Emily Shahan, MEC Consultant and mathematics teacher. Emily taught high school, middle school, and upper elementary students prior to returning to graduate school in teacher education at Stanford to pursue a degree in mathematics education. Currently a Lecturer at Vanderbilt University, she studies the teaching and learning of introductory algebra and teaches pre-service elementary and secondary math teachers.