Walking into the reception in May, our group didn’t know what to expect, because our mentor, Barbara Bissell, wasn’t there.  What might that mean for the fellowship to come?  The icing on the cake came that week when we found out that Barbara retired from her role at DPI!  We thought this could mean anything from getting assigned a new mentor to our fellowship being cancelled.  Luckily, neither of these things happened.

Barbara did retire from the DPI Math Department, but she was granted permission to remain our Kenan mentor.   I believe I speak accurately  for my whole group when I say that we are pleased Barbara is our DPI mentor.  Although she may not be in-the-minute with all of the DPI initiatives and changes, she had been a part of DPI and this field long enough to give us crucial and relevant guidance.  She knows the ins-and-outs of education and is in close contact with many big-name elementary math gurus.  She cares about children and their understanding of mathematical foundations.  She more interested in doing what is researched and right by children, rather than doing what is popular at the moment.  She has shown us how important it is to stay firm in what you believe in, and to ask questions when you don’t believe in something.  We are appreciative of this learning experience and of the lifelong connection we have made with our mentor.