Cristina Heffernan

From TeacherWiki

Professional Preparation

• B.A. Mathematics and Theatre. Lewis and Clark College, 1989.
• M.S. Arts in Teaching. Towson State University, 1996.
• M.S. Education. University of Pittsburgh, 2001.

Recent Appointments

• Adjunct Instructor - Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Mathematics Department: Master of Mathematics for Educators Program, 2008.
• Program manger and School Liaison - Worcester Polytechnic Institute. NSF GK12 Grant, 2008-present.
• Teacher Trainer - Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center grant, 2006-08.
• Math Best Practice Consultant - Worcester Polytechnic Institute. IES Grant, 2006-present.
• Connected Mathematics Program (CMP) Curriculum Trainer - Worcester Public Schools, 2005- 07.
• Math Coach Consultant - Sullivan Middle School, 2005-06.
• Math Coach Consultant - Worcester East Middle School, 2004-06.
• Math Coach - Boston Public Schools, 2003.
• Middle School Math teacher, 1991 - 99.

Career Summary

Cristina L. Heffernan graduated from Towson State University majoring in Arts in Teaching in 1996. Ms. Heffernan taught middle school mathematics as an urban public school teacher, private school teacher and suburban public school teacher from 1991 to 1999.

She attended University of Pittsburgh from 1999 to 2001 to do research in enhancing teaching. She got her master’s degree in Mathematics Education from the University of Pittsburgh working with Peg Smith, on the NSF Funded COMET Project. After that, she was hired by Amy Morse as a math coach for Boston Public Schools in 2003 to 1) teach workshops to elementary school teachers using the Developing Mathematical Ideas (DMI) curriculum, 2) to do in-class coaching with teachers, and 3) to help teachers work in professional learning communities. At that time,Boston hired her to coach teachers on the Connected Math Project curriculum.

Since, Ms. Heffernan has worked as math coach consultant at Worcester East Middle School and Sullivan Middle School, both located in Worcester, Massachusetts. As a consultant, she performed "Master Teacher" demonstration lessons for teachers and mentored teachers in their classrooms as they taught for the first time with the newly adopted CMP curriculum.

In 2003, she and Neil Heffernan hatched the idea of creating a web site for students to get practice help, and for teachers to get reports. Ms. Heffernan has worked on the project ever since, and is the key teacher trainer, as well as subject-matter expert on the project. She has been personnel on four funded grants related to ASSISTments. She supervises a team of a dozen undergraduates working on the project. She also teaches a class to teachers on Formative Assessment Using Technology, as part of the WPI Master of Mathematics for Educators program. She currently is the program manager in the GK12 project, helping teachers, and WPI PhD students in computer science work together.