Cilla Bruun

Dr. Faye Bruun, whose specialization is in mathematics education, is a Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Learning Sciences. Her scholarship focuses on using literature and manipulatives to teach mathematics. During the course of her career, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to developing the mathematics community both at the local and state levels through service to the Texas Council of Teachers of Mathematics (TCTM), the Coastal Council of Teachers of Mathematics, work with graduate students at TAMUCC and grant funded projects to increase the quality and quantity of mathematics educators in South Texas.

Dr. Bruun’s state mathematics leadership experience includes eight years serving on the TCTM board. During that time, she coordinated the Preservice Teacher Scholarships where she consistently promoted the scholarships by supporting undergraduate students at TAMUCC in promoting awareness of this opportunity and the application process. She is published in the Texas Mathematics Teacher and has presented 19 sessions at the Conference for Advancement of Mathematics Teaching (CAMT) between 2005-2019.

At the local level, most mathematics educators in the Coastal Bend know Dr. Bruun. She was a founding member of the Coastal Council of Teachers of Mathematics (CCTM) in 2005 and has served consistently on the board since that time. Additionally, she has been the faculty advisor to the student chapter of the Coastal Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Each year since 2005, CCTM has sponsored ME by the SEa, a regional STEM conference. Dr. Bruun was on the original steering committee for this conference and has been instrumental in the continuation of the conference every year since. The ME by the SEa conference is a crucial source of networking and professional development for mathematics educators. Over 300 attendees from the region as well as across the state attend including pre- and in-service teachers, graduate students, informal educators, and university faculty attend yearly. Without Dr. Bruun’s passion for mathematics teaching and learning, and ability to build relationships across stakeholders in the region, the mathematics community would not be as strong as it is today.

Additionally, Dr. Bruun has been a PI on several grants directly related to developing highly qualified mathematics educators including the Grow Your Own Grant and the National Science Foundation Noyce INSPIRES Grant. These grants involved School-University Partnerships where Dr. Bruun provided professional development in research-based instructional practices to both pre- and in-service teachers. Dr. Bruun has also provided leadership on advisory boards in West Oso ISD. She served on their STEM advisory board as well as on the District Advisory Team from 2018-present.

Dr. Bruun received the 2022 Nancy Trapp Leadership Award from the Texas Council of Teachers of Mathematics because she is the epitome of what the awards stands for. She has remained steadfast in mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, in addition to supporting in-service teachers and administrators in promoting innovative mathematics practices throughout the State of Texas, and especially in the Coastal Bend Region.