Weyer awarded inaugural Janty mathematics scholarship

May 14, 2024 - Lezlie Ann Marie Weyer, a senior mathematics education major at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls has been awarded the John Janty Memorial Scholarship for 2024 from the Wisconsin Mathematics Council, the Wisconsin Mathematics Education Foundation and the Madison Community Foundation.

Weyer, of Baldwin, was awarded the inaugural John Janty Memorial Scholarship at the Wisconsin Mathematics Council Celebration Banquet Event in Green Lake on May 1. She is the vice-president of the Mathematics Education Club at UWRF and will be student teaching at New Richmond Middle School and high school in the fall.

John’s widow, Sue, presented the award to Weyer. Sue shared about Weyer’s passion for working with all students and her belief that they can all succeed with mathematics. 

Weyer is the sixth UW-River Falls math apprentice to receive an award through the Wisconsin Mathematics Council and the Wisconsin Mathematics Education Foundation since 2016.  In addition to receiving the award at the conference, Weyer also conducted a one-hour event with two of her colleagues on developing mathematics education clubs.
 
“Our motto in the program is Learning by Doing. Over the last year working with Lezlie during her apprenticeship, I’ve seen her confidence grow through all of the teaching experiences she has had. She is well prepared with all her knowledge of best teaching practices and has all the tools to be a great math teacher as she moves forward into career. It is gratifying to see all her hard work from the last year be honored with this prestigious award,” said Mathematics Professor Erick Hofacker, the undergraduate and graduate mathematics education program director, and Weyer’s adviser. 

In her preparation to become a teacher, Weyer had an epiphany. When she got to college, she realized that while she had mastered the procedures of mathematics, she did not understand mathematical concepts. She now plans to focus on teaching students to understand mathematical concepts, not just to execute mathematical procedures.

“John Janty valued understanding in mathematics so I’m beyond honored to receive this award since understanding has become very important to me as well,” Weyer said. “This scholarship will help fund my semester of student teaching so I can continue to learn and teach for understanding.”

John was an exceptional mathematics teacher at Waunakee High School and a leader in mathematics education in Wisconsin. He was president of the Wisconsin Mathematics Council, recipient of its Distinguished Mathematics Educator Award, and chair of the Wisconsin Mathematics Education Foundation. He believed that all students can learn mathematics with understanding including those who struggle with mastery and that an effective teacher is crucial in helping each student attain understanding. 

The UW-River Falls Mathematics Education Program prepares students to become successful future middle school and high school mathematics teachers through a unique two-semester apprenticeship model. For more information about the program, visit https://www.uwrf.edu/MATH/Mathematics-Education-Undergraduate-Program.cfm

Photo: Lezlie Weyer (left) with her mother Jessica Weyer. Lezlie, a senior mathematics education major at UW-River Falls was recently awarded the John Janty Memorial Scholarship for 2024 from the Wisconsin Mathematics Council, the Wisconsin Mathematics Education Foundation and the Madison Community Foundation.