TCCC’s Math Pathways Project Team announces new convener

John M. Cooper, Ed.D, who served in several positions at Harvard University and has extensive experience in education and government, has agreed to serve as the new convener of Tri-County Cradle to Career Collaborative’s Math Pathways Project Team (MPPT).

He replaces Geoffrey L. Schuler, a retired Boeing Company executive who has served as convener since the team’s creation in 2015.

MPPT, a group of math professionals at the high school and college level who are supported by TCCC, works to improve the tri-county area’s math curricula and ensure every child graduates high school ready to succeed in postsecondary education and the workforce.

Cooper, who became convener of MPPT on March 19, earned a doctorate in education from Harvard University in Administration, Planning and Social Policy in 1995. He also has a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina and a master’s and bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University.

He served as associate director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education after working in both the executive and legislative branches in North Carolina and South Carolina. Later, he served in several positions at Harvard, including assistant dean for finance for the faculty of arts and sciences. Cooper also was the chief financial officer and faculty member of the Institute of Health Professions at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Cooper retired as the associate director of the Accreditation Commission on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in 2016 and has been active as a community volunteer in Charleston as part of Social Venture Partners Charleston.

“Dr. Cooper’s strong background in education, administration and government makes him an excellent choice to continue MPPT’s important work,” TCCC CEO John C. Read said. “We look forward to seeing his leadership help to improve math education and outcomes for all tri-county children.”    

Under Schuler’s leadership, the MPPT implemented many initiatives, including:

• Spearheading the implementation of Algebra Nation, an online math enrichment tool, which is now fully funded by the State of South Carolina for use by all school districts statewide.
• Establishing the Excellence in Mathematics Teaching awards to recognize and honor mathematics teachers and administrators from the four regional school districts.
• Reviewing the high school math curricula of the four tri-county school districts and recommending requirements for all high school students to complete at least four credits of math: Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry and a fourth higher-level math course beyond Algebra 2.
• Proposing that high school math courses beyond Algebra I and Algebra 2 (e.g. Geometry and Precalculus) should include an end-of-course (EOC) exam common across each school district, that each EOC exam should align exclusively to the priority standards set for that course and that these exams should count for at least 15% of the student’s final grade for the course.

About the Math Pathways Project Team

The Math Pathways Project Team (MPPT) was initiated in October of 2015 by Tri-County Cradle to Career Collaborative’s Postsecondary Education Consortium and Future Ready Network (formerly known as High School Graduation Network) to open pathways to STEM-related college and career options. MPPT is comprised of representation from the region’s four school districts (Berkeley County, Charleston County, Dorchester District 2 and Dorchester District 4) and colleges and universities across the state (Charleston Southern University, Clemson University, The Citadel, College of Charleston, University of South Carolina and Trident Technical College). Since that date, the team has been engaged in the review and evaluation of the region’s school district math curriculum, the colleges’ and universities’ entry requirements and the readiness of high school students to enter post-secondary education and/or to enter the workforce. 

About Tri-County Cradle to Career Collaborative

Tri-County Cradle to Career Collaborative (TCCC) is a community-wide movement in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties, South Carolina, focused on improving the quality of life of its citizens and its workforce through education. Using data and focused community collaboration across a continuum from “cradle-to-career,” TCCC serves as a catalyst for widespread, systemic change, with the ultimate goal of increased success and economic prosperity for all.