Rate My Professor Cindy Jong

Dr. Cindy Jong is a Professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of STEM Education at the University of Kentucky College of Education, a position she has held since June 2023 after serving as Associate Professor from 2016 to 2023 and Assistant Professor from 2011 to 2016. She joined the University of Kentucky in 2011 and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Elementary Education Program since summer 2017, with a joint appointment in the Department of Mathematics and as a faculty affiliate of the UK Center for Equality and Social Justice since 2016. Prior to UK, Jong was an Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Virginia Commonwealth University from 2009 to 2011. She began her academic career with research and teaching roles at Boston College's Lynch School of Education from 2004 to 2009, including as a research assistant on projects like Teachers for a New Era and NSF-funded initiatives, and as an instructor for mathematics methods courses. Earlier, she taught second grade at Mountain View Elementary School in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada, from 2002 to 2004. Jong holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Mathematics Education from Boston College (2009), an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction: Mathematics Education from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (2004), and a B.A. in Elementary Education with K-8 Teaching License and TESL Certification from UNLV (2002).

Jong's research specializations include mathematics teacher education, teacher learning, professional noticing, equity in STEM education, and teaching mathematics for social justice. She has led major grants, such as the NSF IUSE Project M3INE: Microlearning Mathematics Modules that Intersect Noticing and Equity ($599,875, 2019–2022, PI), and collaborative NSF IUSE Project TECHNO ($209,000 to UK, 2014–2017, co-PI). Key publications encompass 'Teaching mathematics for social justice beliefs scale: Psychometrics and practices in teacher education' (Jong, Hodges, & Zhou, 2023, International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology), 'Professional Noticing Coherence: Exploring Relationships between Component Processes' (Thomas et al., 2022, Mathematical Thinking and Learning), 'What role does professional noticing play? Examining connections with affect and mathematical knowledge for teaching among preservice teachers' (Jong et al., 2021, ZDM Mathematics Education), and 'Reciprocal relationship between self-efficacy and achievement in mathematics among high school students' (Liu, Jong, & Fan, 2024, Large-Scale Assessments in Education). Her honors include the University of Kentucky Outstanding Teaching Award (2022), UK College of Education Teacher Who Made a Difference Awards (2017, 2014), and Donald J. White Teaching Excellence Award from Boston College (2008). Jong serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education (2021–present) and was special issue editor for School Science and Mathematics.