Phares G O'Daffer

Phares O'Daffer was born and raised in Weldon, Illinois. He received his B.S.(1955) and M.S.(1956) from Illinois State University, studied at the University of Iowa(1958) and the University of Michigan(1962), and received his PhD in Mathematics Education from the University of Illinois(1968). His teaching experience spans ages from grade 3 to college, and includes early involvement with the University of Illinois Committee on School Mathematics (UICSM) and the Ball State Expermental Program....See more

Phares O'Daffer was born and raised in Weldon, Illinois. He received his B.S.(1955) and M.S.(1956) from Illinois State University, studied at the University of Iowa(1958) and the University of Michigan(1962), and received his PhD in Mathematics Education from the University of Illinois(1968). His teaching experience spans ages from grade 3 to college, and includes early involvement with the University of Illinois Committee on School Mathematics (UICSM) and the Ball State Expermental Program. Phares has taught at Ball State University (1960-64) and was Professor of Mathematics at Illinois State University (1968-1988). Phares has co-authored six major K-8 Elementary School Mathematics textbook series, used extensively in elementary schools in the United States and other countries. He has authored or co-authored over 140 mathematics books ranging from a kindergarten text to a college text for elementary teachers, and a number of articles in professional journals. He has also served as Chairman of the Editorial Panel for the Arithmetic Teacher, a major journal of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Phares has had a long time interest in genealogy, and you can get acquainted with his involvement by visiting his genealogy website, www.Odaffer.com. His other activities include golf, tennis, and service on the board of directors of a local hospital and on a community college foundation board. He is married to Harriet Gove O'Daffer, and has three children and seven grandchildren. Thomas Cooney was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. He received his B.Ed. and M.Ed. Degrees from the University of Toledo with majors in mathematics and mathematics education respectively and hisPh.D. in Mathematics Education from the University of Illinois in 1969. He taught middle and secondary school mathematics in Rossford, Ohio from 1960-1966 while completing his doctorate. Upon completion of his Ph.D., he went to the University of Georgia's Department of Mathematics Education where, after 30 years, he became Professor Emeritus. His research on teaching and teacher education has been internationally recognized through his publications and his lectures in more than 20 countries. Tom was awarded the Gladys Thomason Award for outstanding service to the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics and has received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Illinois College of Education. He was the initial editor of the international Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education. His most recent work involves developing assessment items for elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers. Tom is an avid golfer and an experienced traveler. Randy Charles received his bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1971. He was a high school mathematics teacher in Maryland from 1971 to 1974 during which time he simultaneously attended the University of Maryland. He received his master's degree from the University of Maryland in 1974. He attended Indiana University from 1974 to 1977 where he worked on a federally-funded research and curriculum development project on problem solving. He was a K-12 mathematics supervisor in a school district of about 30,000 students in West Virginia from 1977 to 1982 and then moved on to Illinois State University. He was a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at San Jose State University, California, from 1987 until January 2001 when he decided to pursue writing full time. Randy started writing textbooks for elementary and secondary school mathematics in 1978. He has written more than 75 textbooks for children and teachers. He has been involved in numerous activities with NCTM and has authored several NCTM... See less