The Center of Recruitment & Retention of Mathematics Teachers (CRR)
The CRR was created in August 2001 to address the shortage of qualified mathematics teachers at the middle and high school levels. Our goals are to retain mathematics teachers currently in the field and to attract college students to the teaching profession.
The CRR's Vision is an excellent mathematics teacher for every child.
The CRR’s Mission is to attract, develop, and support new mathematics teachers, and engage current mathematics teachers in re-imagining mathematics learning through innovative programs, retaining high-quality teachers in mathematics education.
The CRR's Values are Community, Growth, Service, and Empowerment.
- We value our diverse community and are committed to building community through all events and programs.
- We value growth, both within the organization as well as with each of our stakeholders and our community at large.
- We value service, and we seek to be of service to our community, engaging with our community to improve mathematics education through each event and program.
- We value empowerment, and we seek to empower our stakeholders to re-imagine mathematics education without boundaries.
The Center for Recruitment and Retention of Mathematics Teachers has provided excellent professional development opportunities for teachers in Southern Arizona for over 20 years.With this new partnership with the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), we will now be able to offer our services state-wide in support of our mission to ensure that every student has a highly qualified mathematics teacher. |
This Partnership will allow us to provide free online and hybrid training opportunities to all K-12 Arizona teachers of Mathematics.Free workshops are designed to deepen teachers' mathematical understanding, promote hands-on student-centered lessons, and examine alternative ways to present particular topics. |
Can't Find Us?
It's Okay! Below is a video on how to find the CRR Classroom in the PAS building. After that is another video on how to find the CRR Classroom in the Education Building.
Further down is a drop-down with written directions to find both the PAS Building and the Education Building! If you have any further questions, feel free to email us!
UArizona Center for Recruit and Retention of Mathematics Teachers (CRR)
The CRR is located in the UArizona Physics Atmospheric Sciences Building (PAS) at 1118 E 4th St, Tucson, AZ 85719.
During the week, there is PAID parking in the 6th Street Garage at 1119 E 6th St, Tucson, AZ 85719.
See below for directions, a map, and a video for finding the CRR classroom in PAS 588.
6th Street Garage Address: 1119 E 6th St, Tucson, AZ 85719
After parking, follow the BLUE LINE on the map above!
Exit on the west side of the garage facing the Environmental and Natural Resources 2 Building.
From there you are going to cross north on E Lowell St.
Continue straight north on the pedestrian path past the Biological Sciences West Building towards E 4th Street.
Once you reach E 4th Street, between the Gould-Simpson Building and the Physics Atmospheric Sciences Building, make a right.
Continue right until you reach the last entrance door of the Physics Atmospheric Sciences Building and enter through there (RED CRR on map).
Physics Atmospheric Sciences Building (PAS #588) Classroom Location: 1118 E 4th St, Tucson, AZ 85719
After you enter the Physics Atmospheric Sciences Building, continue up the short flight of stairs to the second floor.
Facing you will be stair access which you can use to get to the 5th floor.
If you do not want to take the stairs, continue down the hall and there will be elevator access as well.
If you take the stairs, after you reach the 5th floor, the CRR Classroom (room 588) will be to your immediate right.
If you take the elevator, after you reach the 5th floor, make a right and continue down towards the end of the hall until you reach the classroom.
Some of our events are also held in the Education Building!
Address for College of Education: The Education Building, 1430 E 2nd St, Tucson, AZ 85721
"Now more than ever our state needs highly qualified teachers who can teach core subjects like mathematics. The Center's work dedicated to this endeavor has helped accelerate students' achievements, and will be a great asset as the state continues to recover from lingering impacts of the pandemic" - Former Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, Kathy Hoffman
"Over 20 years of high-quality professional development for mathematics teachers!"
Our History
2001
The Center for Recruitment and Retention of Mathematics Teachers (CRR) was founded by Dr. Fred Stevenson in 2001 to support Tucson area secondary mathematics teachers.
Sue Adams and Ann Modica, two outstanding former high school mathematics teachers, and leaders in Tucson area mathematics education, were recruited to be the co-directors.
The Center began by offering two programs:
- A Tutoring in the Schools class to train and hire undergraduate University of Arizona students to use effective tutoring skills as they worked with classroom students. Due to the experience, some of these tutors decided to switch their current major to enter the Secondary Mathematics Education Program (SMEP) or the Teach Arizona program to become mathematics teachers
- A New Teacher Induction Program paired new teachers with a supportive coach for a year. These new teachers also attend a monthly workshop designed to deepen their mathematical understanding and provide pedagogical training to develop effective classroom procedures and strategies.
Funding for the Center came from school district partnerships, private donations, and a National Science Foundation grant.
2005
CRR hosted the first Mathematics Educator Appreciation Day Conference (MEAD). The MEAD Conference has grown to become the largest K-16 mathematics teacher conference in the state of Arizona.
2008
CRR began hosting teacher workshops. Secondary mathematics content workshops were designed to deepen understanding and incorporate technology into lessons. Five 3 or 4-session workshops were offered on weeknights throughout the year.
Also in 2008, the Herbst Foundation provided an endowment to provide funding for two Saturday workshops per year. The Herbst Enrichment Mathematics Seminars (HEMS) are taught by exemplary classroom teachers who present meaningful content and model excellent teaching strategies. Stipends are paid to the teachers who attend. Currently the Herbst endowment funds five HEMS workshops each year. We are very grateful for the continued guidance and support from Lee and Arthur Herbst.
2009
In April 2009, the first Advanced Placement Calculus Practice Exams were hosted. Both Calculus AB and BC Exams are given so that students gain experience with the types of questions asked and learn how the College Board exams are scored. In 2014, an AP Statistics Practice Exam was added to the event. Many thanks to Bruce MacMillan, Chris Yetman, and Josh Tabor for leading this effort.
2012
In addition to workshops for secondary mathematics teachers, workshops were hosted for teachers in grades K through 6 to build an understanding of fractions, algebra, and geometry.
2017
The CRR received funding to expand, revise, and improve the Tutor Scholar Program to focus on making the greatest impact possible through mathematics mentoring. The Student Thinking Enrichment through Mathematics Mentors (STEMM) came from those efforts. STEMM is an AmeriCorps program, supporting schools across the Tucson area with high-quality mathematics mentors and tutors (U of A students) in order to affect the greatest impact on youth. STEMM also engages the teachers in the New Teacher Induction Program as math mentors for three of their high-need students, providing a more intensive level of support for those students. The New Teacher Induction teachers also receive targeted biweekly mentoring from their Induction Coaches.
2018
The Thomas R. Brown Foundation provided another grant to fund an expansion of the IMPACTS program to middle schools. The IMPACTS-MS Program provides teachers in grades 6 through 8 with experiences to further develop their content knowledge and pedagogical skills to help students develop the critical foundations for algebra.
2020
The CRR pivoted all of its services online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) recognized the Center for its high-quality services and partnered with the CRR to expand the Center's services statewide. During the 2020-2021 academic year, thousands of teachers participated in CRR events, including over 1400 participants at the MEAD Conference from all 15 Arizona counties.
2021
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, Kathy Hoffman, formally acknowledged the CRR in both her State of Education and State of Special Education remarks to the Arizona legislature. In turn, ADE extended its partnership with the CRR for another year, meaning CRR services continue to be free to all Arizona teachers for the 2021-2022 academic year.
2022
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) recognized the important impact of the Center's services and extended its partnership with the CRR for an additional two years, running through September 2024. The Center also unveiled its Integrated Learning Classroom with flexible learning spaces, horizontal and vertical whiteboard surfaces, and hybrid technology to allow for both in-person and online participants.