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A resolution recognizing the month of April as "Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month" in Nashville and Davidson County, and further recognizing Nashville's female mathematicians as part of the month-long celebration.
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WHEREAS, the goal of Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month, held each year in April, is to increase public understanding of and appreciation for mathematics and statistics; and
WHEREAS, Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month began in 1986 as Mathematics Awareness Week with a proclamation by President Ronald Reagan, who said, "Despite the increasing importance of mathematics to the progress of our economy and society, enrollment in mathematics programs has been declining at all levels of the American educational system. Yet the application of mathematics is indispensable in such diverse fields as medicine, computer sciences, space exploration, the skilled trades, business, defense, and government;" and
WHEREAS, mathematics and statistics play a significant role in addressing many real-world problems and are important drivers of innovation in our technological world, in which new systems and methodologies continue to become more complex; and,
WHEREAS, women have made significant gains in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce, but girls are still less likely to study STEM subjects including mathematics and statistics; and
WHEREAS, the Mathematical Mission of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools is "to provide each student with the daily opportunity to reason mathematically, communicate their ideas, and value mathematics with rigorous instruction," and under the leadership of Dr. Jessica Slayton, Director of Mathematics, there are 260 middle and high school math teachers in Metro Public Schools, of whom 158 are women; and
WHEREAS, the 2018 Tennessee Teacher of the Year was West End Middle math teacher Cicely Woodard, Una Elementary math teacher Olivia Stastny was featured in the 2020 Corwi...
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