When I read the first sentence of the email I received today, I nearly fell over. I had to read it several times to make sure I got it right:

On behalf of the U.S. Department of State, I would like to congratulate you on being selected for the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program.

I cried. I hugged people. I called my mom, who also cried. After several deep breaths, I eventually got my act together and had to get on with the rest of my day. For a small celebration, my family and I went out for Chinese food – since that was the closest we could get to Singapore food!

Now the work really begins. I am even more invigorated to do the important work that is the subject of my inquiry project. In my proposal for the Fulbright, I wrote that I wanted to learn from Singapore schools and scholars how the students there consistently do well in the TIMSS assessment. And through my research, I will augment a summer Algebra program for NCP incoming 9th graders. By enhancing this program, I hope to be able to provide the highest quality Algebra program to mostly low-income students so that they may more easily take college-level AP math classes in high school. I hope to learn about curriculum, assessment, parent/family/school connections, and cultural influences. We are running this program this summer for the first time.

Before I received word that I was selected for the DAT, I had been talking to my principal earlier in the day about an upcoming state-mandated assessment that all students in Algebra have to take this May. We only have 70 students enrolled in Algebra this year, which is hardly enough to provide reliable data – and I am doubtful that it’s reliable at any participation rate. It for future students like those 70 – or for at least most of them – that I want to provide this summer class. I am increasingly concerned about the stigma that these students may experience by being placed in Algebra while the rest of the class of 280 students are in higher level math classes. It is my hope that our program will be the right balance of support and challenge for them to be successful moving on to higher level classes.

My next steps entail formally accepting the DAT grant and submitting the necessary paperwork – basically jumping through all the hoops to make this happen. It’s all good. I am completely over the moon that I was awarded this, so none of it seems like a big deal.

Sometimes shooting for the stars works out well. I’m ready to see what the ‘stars’ have in store for me!