Calculus tournament winning team with Doug Smeltz (center), consultant for Texas Instruments and former CCS calculus teacher (from left to right) Johanni Martin, Northland H.S.; Nichelle Logan, Independence H.S.; Jessica Lowry, Centennial H.S.; and Christina Carpenter, East H.S.




More than 200 students from 13 Columbus (Ohio) public high schools competed in the fourth annual AP® Calculus Tournament in April. Termed April Mathness, the daylong event was created to honor and reward Columbus City Schools’ dedicated AP students and teachers. AP math teachers from each of the 13 schools were recognized for their consistently heroic efforts to offer AP Calculus in their schools and for all that they do for their hardworking, high-achieving higher math students.

In addition to the competitive activities, the students enjoyed a panel discussion with professional mathematicians working in the private sector and in education. These special guest panelists included Darry Andrews, director of the Mathematics and Statistics Learning Center at The Ohio State University, who spoke about teaching mathematics by integrating technology into instruction; Kent Garrett, director of Quantitative Risk Management for Nationwide Financial, who prepared for his role by studying mathematics and computer science; Stephanie Groce, vice president of Consumer and Professional Research at Saperstein Associates and a member of the Columbus City Schools Board of Education, who studied English, then quantitative research, evaluation and measurement in education before specializing in textbook efficacy research; Mark Morss, principal analyst of Market Risk for American Electric Power and a United States Chess Federation-rated chess master who won second place in the 2001 Correspondence Chess Championship of the United States; Steven Naber, research statistician for Battelle Memorial Institute, who creates mathematics-based designs for collecting data, develops and applies data analysis methods and evaluates mathematical confidence in data results; Daniel Shapiro, professor in the Department of Mathematics & Physical Sciences at OSU, who also directs
the Ross Mathematics Program for Teachers and Students in the summer; and Doug Smeltz, consultant for Texas Instruments T3 program (Teachers Teaching with Technology), who studied mathematics at OSU.

In addition to his work with Texas Instruments, Smeltz works with OSU’s College of Education, assisting new recruits who are earning an M.A. in math education, and he has led numerous workshops on the use of technology in the mathematics classroom. Before retiring in 2004,
Smeltz taught mathematics courses, including calculus, for 38 years at both Northland High
School and Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School.

The winning student team, which was all female, included Johanni Martin from Northland High, Nichelle Logan from Independence High, Jessica Lowry from Centennial High and Christina Carpenter from East High.

Interim VP Fred Dietrich

Recently, more than 300 Columbus City high school juniors attended a college planning program on the main campus of The Ohio State University. This program, sponsored by Ohio State, Columbus City Schools and the College Board, gave students who have taken the PSAT/NMSQT® an opportunity to learn more about the college planning process, how best to prepare for the SAT® and how to use the many resources available on collegeboard.com.  Representatives from Ohio State’s Undergraduate Admissions and First Year Experience Office and the College Board’s Midwestern Regional Office facilitated the informational and interactive program. 

In its second year, this program has expanded its reach to college-bound juniors and has created additional opportunities to connect students to college success. Our partners were pleased with how this program impacts the students and supports the community. 

Elaine Bell, executive director, Office of Student Assistance, Intervention and Outreach, Columbus City Schools, stated that this partnership provides many opportunities for students who attend schools in an urban district like Columbus to visit a major university that has a program tailored and highly specialized to meet their unique needs. Even though many of these students may not enroll in Ohio State, school representatives are very willing community partners in helping students reach their goals of getting in and getting through college. A second program was held later that evening that brought high school juniors and their parents to Ohio State’s campus from Columbus suburban schools. This program followed a similar format and was well received by the parents and students in attendance. 

All members of this partnership — Columbus City Schools, The Ohio State University and the College Board — have invested much time, effort and energy to this important work. The Ohio State University, in conjunction with the College Board, plans to implement further programming that is designed to increase access to higher education.