Bob Moses, president and founder of the Algebra Project and a nationally recognized educator, will receive the first University of Colorado at Boulder School of Education John Dewey Prize for Progressive Education.
Moses, the winner of a 1982 MacArthur Fellowship, also known as the "genius grant," will speak about his Algebra Project during a free, public lecture to be held Thursday, May 17, at 4:30 p.m. in Old Main Chapel on the CU-Boulder campus.
An active leader in the civil rights movement, Moses has focused much of his life on improving education and in particular finding innovative ways to help middle school students make the conceptual shift from arithmetic to algebra.
Based in Cambridge, Mass., the Algebra Project's mission is to improve mathematics achievement for African-American and other minority students through materials development, teacher training, peer education and school-community relationships.
Public Broadcasting Service's "Now with Bill Moyers" program featured Moses and his Algebra Project in 2002. Moses earned a master's degree in philosophy from Harvard University, and has received honorary degrees from many institutions including Harvard, Princeton University and the University of Michigan.
The John Dewey Prize was made possible by a grant from George Stranahan and the Stranahan family.
Those interested in attending the public event must R.S.V.P. by calling (303) 492-6937 or e-mailing educdean@colorado.edu.