Shae Rounds-Kelly ’18 has been awarded the Racial Justice in Early Math Teaching Fellowship for 2023-24. The Racial Justice in Early Mathematics (RJEM) project was established in 2019 as a collaboration between Erikson Institute and the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) to focus on addressing issues of systemic racial injustices in the math education of young learners. The Heising-Simons Foundation recently funded the first Racial Justice in Early Math Teaching Fellowship, a one-year professional development, mentoring, and research opportunity intended to support kindergarten teachers from across the United States. Through individual mentoring sessions and group seminars, Fellows will develop a robust understanding of racial justice in early math, implement racial justice centered teaching practices in their classrooms, participate in a network of mentorship and peer support, and contribute to a growing understanding of how early math teaching can further the cause of racial justice. Each Fellow is awarded a stipend of $7,000 for their participation.
Shae been teaching for six years in Title 1 schools, currently teaching Kindergarten at Hernwood Elementary in Randallstown, MD. In 2022, she graduated from the University of Iowa with an M.A. in Teaching, Leadership, and Cultural Competency. Shae also teaches the junior year seminar in the School of Education as an adjunct instructor.