Wilson Honored for Lifetime Achievements in Mathematics Education
Reston, VA, March 28, 2001--James Wilson, a professor of mathematics
education at the University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., will receive the
Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Service to Mathematics Education
from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). NCTM will
present the award to Wilson on April 6 during its 79th Annual Meeting
in Orlando, Florida. More than 18,000 educators are expected to attend
Originally from Kansas, Wilson has served for 24 years as head of the
mathematics education department at the University of Georgia. Under his
leadership the department has grown in size and gained international standing.
He has earned the title of "rainmaker" for his encouragement
and support of students and peers in helping to bring their ideas to fruition.
"The national legacy of students who have been guided into their
life-long research careers by Jim is truly amazing. He will outlive all
of us through his students," said a nominator.
During Wilson's 42-year career his seminal scholarly contributions to
mathematics education have focused on problem solving, assessment, and
technology. He currently teaches a course on problem solving and his work
in the area of assessment was groundbreaking. The influence of his chapter
in "Formative and Summative Evaluation of Student Learning"
helped form the curriculum framework of important state, national and
international assessments, including the National Assessment of Educational
A leader in research, Wilson was editor of NCTM's "Journal for Research
in Mathematics Education" during a crucial time in its history and
helped raise it to its current prominence. He is considered by many mathematics
educators to be at the forefront of using technology in the teaching and
learning of mathematics. Every class he teaches makes extensive use of
technology and he maintains a Web site which receives 10,000 hits a week.
Wilson also has made a substantial contribution to mathematics education
in the U.S. through his curriculum writing. He has authored two grades
K-8 mathematics text series spanning over 20 years and authored a college
In summing up Wilson's contributions, one award nominator said, "He
is a teacher, mentor, researcher, friend and generous human being who
has had a tremendous influence on mathematics education nationally throughout
The Mathematics Education Trust was established by NCTM to fund special
projects that enhance the teaching and learning of mathematics.
NCTM is a nonprofit, nonpartisan education association with more than
100,000 members and 250 Affiliates located throughout the United States
and Canada. NCTM is the world's largest organization dedicated to improving
mathematics education from prekindergarten through grade 12. The Council's
"Principles and Standards for School Mathematics" provides guidelines
for excellence in mathematics education.