Francis (Skip) Fennell, PhD, is now emeritus as the L. Stanley Bowlsbey professor of education and Graduate and Professional Studies at McDaniel College in Maryland, where he continues to direct the Wisconsin Institute of Mathematics supported Elementary Mathematics Specialists and Teacher Leaders Project (http://www.mathspecialists.org). A mathematics educator who has experience as a classroom teacher, principal, and supervisor of instruction, he is a past president of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE), the Research Council for Mathematics Learning (RCML), and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).
Widely published in professional journals and textbooks related to PreK-8 mathematics education, Dr. Fennell has also played key leadership roles for the Mathematical Sciences Education Board (MSEB), National Science Foundation (NSF), and the U.S. National Commission on Mathematics Instruction (USNCMI). He served as a writer for the Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM, 2000), the Curriculum Focal Points (NCTM, 2006) and for the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSO, 2010). He also served on the National Mathematics Advisory Panel (2006-2008). Dr. Fennell served as a member of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Commission (2012-2013) and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the CAEP Board of Directors. He has also served as the mathematics advisor for the Emmy award winning PBS television shows Peg + CAT and Odd Squad.
Dr. Fennell has received numerous honors and awards, including Maryland’s Outstanding Mathematics Educator, McDaniel College’s Professor of the Year, the Glenn Gilbert National Leadership Award from the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics, the CASE - Carnegie Foundation Professor of the Year - Maryland, the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators’ Distinguished Outstanding Teacher Educator, and, the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. In 2018 he received and honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from McDaniel College and the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM).
Skip is one of the authors of enVision Mathematics 2.0 by Pearson, and along with Beth Kobett and Jon Wray, he is a co-author of The Formative 5 (Corwin/NCTM, 2017) and the book’s recently released Professional Development Program and eCourse.
On a personal level, Skip is the father of 3 and grandfather of 9. He has completed 9 marathons and close to 30 half marathons. He continues to enjoy running and reading; loves any beach; and enjoys playing pickleball.