Ralph J. Polley 4426 Polk, Houston, Texas 77023 [email protected] cell: 713.806.1845
EXPERIENCE _ 1995–Present Houston Independent School District Houston, TX
Houston Academy for International Studies - Teacher, AP Statistics, Precalculus, and Geometry 2011- Present • Exemplary School 2011-2012 • Selected by HISD secondary mathematics curriculum manager for special studies in effective mathematics pedagogy
Sam Houston Math, Science, and Technology Center - Teacher, AP Calculus, and AP Statistics 2009-2011
Increased standardized test scores by 600%
School moved from unacceptable to recognized
Eastwood Academy – Teacher, Department Chair, taught all upper level classes • Exemplary School 2007-2008 100% passing rate Eastwood Academy – Teacher, Department Chair, taught all upper level classes • Exemplary School 2007-2008 • 100% passing rate for Dual Credit College Algebra
The Rice School - Teacher, Department Chair, Algebra Initiative Coordinator • Algebra, Advanced Placement and traditional Eighth Grade Math
Oversee mathematics curriculum 6-8 Gifted and Talented teacher
100% TAAS passing rate and 100% Algebra End of Course passing rate for 2000 through 2005 school years Teacher of the year 2002-2003
Reagan High School - Teacher, Department Chair, Algebra Initiative Coordinator Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Placement Math, Mathematical Modeling with Applications, and Fundamentals of Math
Gifted and Talented teacher Increased Algebra End of Course passing rate 400%
University of Houston Downtown Houston, TX 1998-Present Instructor, Houston PreP and The Saturday Academy
¢ Algebra, Computational Science, Introduction to Logic, Mathematical Problem Solving, The History of Mathematics, Flight Engineering
1976 – 1994 Construction Fasteners and Titan Chemical Houston, TX Outside Sales Representative – Chemicals, Printing, and Industrial Fasteners EDUCATION _ 1994 University of Houston Houston, TX • Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics – Graduated Magna Cum Laude • Texas Secondary Mathematics Certification (Lifetime) 2012 University of Houston Houston, TX Master of Arts, Graduate School of Mathematics, July 2012
HONORS / AWARDS _ 2010-11 Robert Noyce Fellow – Rice University Selected participant for HISD special studies in effective mathematics 2009 pedagogy HISD mathematics representative at SAS statistics conclave in North Carolina 1994 by the HISD Research and Accountability Department The Rice School/La Escuela Rice Teacher of the Year Golden Key National Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi PROJECTS _
2009-2010 HISD Research and Accountability Houston, TX • Mathematics representative on committee to review and evaluate EVAAS statistics program 2008 HISD Mathematics Curriculum Houston, TX • Mathematics trainer for Geometry Sketchpad strategies in the secondary mathematics classroom The Rice School/La Escuela Rice Houston, TX 2001-2003 • Shared Decision Making Team Reagan High School Houston, TX 1997 – 2000 Wrote for and received PLATO grant. Ran PLATO high school lab for Algebra Algebra Textbook Selection Committee Houston, TX 1999 • Algebra text adoption for HISD Houston Independent School District Houston, TX 1996 - 1998 Teacher Trainer for Teachers and Administrators - Internet, Windows, and application programs
SELLECTED
PROFESSIONAL _ DEVELOPMENT _
2006, 2007 Super Computing Conferences Education Strand Multiple Locations • Applied for and accepted as participant in 4 years of Super Computer Conferences in the Education Strand including participation in summer institutes 2004-2007 Part City Mathematics Institute Park City, UT • Sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ
Houston, 1998 and 1996 Gifted and Talented Training TX • Train the Trainer Training with Sandra Kaplan for Houston ISD 1997 RUSMP and Texteams Houston, TX • Participant in Algebra and Geometry • 6 hours graduate credit from Rice University in Mathematics Methods Project STAR Houston, TX
Ralph Polley page 2 of 3 • Combine the use of telecommunications with classroom-based science and mathematics.
SELLECTED PRESENTATIONS
2004 Super Computing Conference SC2004 Pittsburgh, PA • Modeling Neural Networks with Matrix Algebra 2003 NCTM National Conference San Antonio, TX • Rice University GK-12 Fellows Program 2000 NCTM Regional Houston, TX • Using the TI-92 in the Geometry Classroom 1999 TCEA Region IV Houston, TX • Using TI-82 in the Algebra
Classroom
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