Alfred S. Posamentier

Alfred S. Posamentier (born October 18, 1942) is among the most prominent American educators in the country and is a lead commentator on American math and science education, regularly contributing to The New York Times and other news publications. He has created original math and science curricula, emphasized the need for increased math and science funding, promulgated criteria by which to select math and science educators, advocated the importance of involving parents in K-12 math and science education, and provided myriad curricular solutions for teaching critical thinking in math.

Dr. Posamentier was a member of the New York State Education Commissioner’s Blue Ribbon Panel on the Math-A Regents Exams. He served on the the Commissioner’s Mathematics Standards Committee, which redefined the Standards for New York State. And he currently serves on the New York City schools’ Chancellor’s Math Advisory Panel.

Posamentier earned a Ph.D. in mathematics education from Fordham University (1973), a Master’s degree in mathematics education from the City College of the City University of New York (1966) and an A.B. degree in mathematics from Hunter College of the City University of New York.

Posamentier was born in Manhattan in New York City, the son of Austrian-Jewish immigrants. He has one daughter (Lisa, born in 1970), and one son (David, born in 1978). He resides in Riverdale, New Jersey and is the current Dean of Education at Mercy College, New York.

Awards and honors

In 1989, Posamentier was awarded an Honorary Fellow at the South Bank University (London, England). In recognition of his outstanding teaching, the City College Alumni Association named him Educator of the Year in 1994, and in 2009. New York City had the day, May 1, 1994, named in his honor by the President of the New York City Council. In 1994, he was also awarded the Grand Medal of Honor from the Republic of Austria, and in 1999, upon approval of Parliament, the President of the Republic of Austria awarded him the title of University Professor of Austria. In 2003 he was awarded the title of Ehrenbürger (Honorary Fellow) of the Vienna University of Technology, and in 2004 was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honor for Arts and Science, First Class from the President of the Republic of Austria. In 2005 he was inducted into the Hunter College Alumni Hall of Fame, and in 2006 he was awarded the prestigious Townsend Harris Medal by the City College Alumni Association. In 2009 he was Awarded the Christian Peter Beuth Prize in Berlin.

Publications

Dr. Posamentier has authored or co-authored over 45 books, including:

• Progress in Mathematics K-9 textbook series (Sadlier-Oxford, 2006-2009)
• Math Wonders: To Inspire Teachers and Students (ASCD, 2003)
• Math Charmers: Tantalizing Tidbits for the Mind (Prometheus Books, 2003)
• A Biography of the World’s Most Mysterious Number (Prometheus Books, 2004)
• 101+ Great Ideas to Introduce Key Concepts in Mathematics (Corwin, 2006)
• What successful Math Teacher Do: Grades 6-12 (Corwin 2006)
• What successful Math Teacher Do: Grades K-5 (Corwin 2007)
• Exemplary Practices for Secondary Math Teachers (ASCD, 2007) and The Fabulous Fibonacci Numbers (Prometheus Books, 2007)
• Problem-Solving Strategies for Efficient and Elegant Solutions, Grades 6-12 (Corwin, 2008) Problem Solving in Mathematics: Grades 3-6: Powerful Strategies to Deepen Understanding (Corwin, 2009)
• Mathematical Amazements and Surprises: Fascinating Figures and Noteworthy Numbers (Prometheus, 2009)
• The Pythagorean Theorem : Its Power and Glory (Prometheus, 2010)