Rafaela Santa Cruz
Professor Emerita
School of Teacher Education
Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education
Bio
I grew up in Tucson, Arizona where I attended the University of Arizona and received a degree in mathematics. After graduation, I received a fellowship for a Master's program in special education at the University of Southern California. After those studies I returned to teach at Tucson High School. During the nine years that I was there I was a teacher, department chair, and Mexican folkloric dance instructor. In my spare time I took doctoral classes. After receiving my doctorate in 1979, I was hired as a senior research analyst for an externally funded project at San Diego State University. The following year I was hired as a faculty member in the Secondary Education Department.
Interests, Activities & Plans
Presently, I teach methods of teaching mathematics for elementary, secondary, and Spanish bilingual students, educational psychology for secondary students, and statistics and research methods for doctoral students. The focus of my research and professional growth activities has been to seek solutions to the achievement gap of Latino students, particularly in mathematics. I am the director of San Diego Mathematics Project, a leadership staff development program for teachers of mathematics.
I am also involved with a student recruitment program, B-FIRST, at San Diego High School and I direct the College of Education Faculty Student Mentor Program, a student retention programs for underrepresented students at SDSU.
Other Interesting Things
I enjoy attending concerts and plays. I like a variety of music that is reflected in my eclectic CD collection. I enjoy traveling and doing things with my extended family that includes my father, seven brothers and sisters, and 15 nieces and nephews. I enjoy cooking, sewing, and playing with technology.
Education
Ph.D. Educational Administration, University of Arizona
M.S. Special Education, University of Southern California
B.S. Mathematics, University of Arizona
Responsibilities
Former Director, Joint Ph.D. Program in Education (2005-2016, 2018-2019)
College of Education Faculty Student Mentor
Former Director, San Diego Mathematics Project
Co-Principal Investigator, Science Achievement in Biology (SABIO)
Publications
(with R. E. Stake, B. P. Schappelle, M. Mellissinos, & M. J. Gierl). Setting the Standards: NCTM's role in the reform of mathematics education. In S. A. Raizen & E. D. Britton (Eds.), Bold Ventures: U.S. Innovations in Science and Mathematics Education. Volume 3: Cases in Mathematics Education (pp. 13-132). Dordrecht: Kluwer, 1996.
(with S. A. Raizen & M. B. Rowe). Changing conceptions of reform. In S. A. Raizen & E. D. Britton (Eds.), Bold Ventures, Volume 1: Patterns among U.S. Innovations in Science and Mathematics Education (pp. 97-129). Dordrecht: Kluwer, 1997.
Affective issues in research on mathematical problem solving. In J. Leinonen (Ed.), Proceedings of the Research Association of Teaching Mathematics and Science (pp. 145-154). Roveniemi, Finland: University of Lapland, 1998.
Mathematical beliefs and curriculum reform. In E. Pehkonen & G. Toerner (Eds.), Mathematical Beliefs and Their Impact on Teaching and Learning (pp. 90-95). Duisburg, Germany: Gerhard Mercator University, 1999.
(with Karen D. King) Coming of age in academe: A review of Mathematics Education as a Research Domain: A Search for Identity, edited by Anna Sierpinska and Jeremy Kilpatrick. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 1999, 30(2), 227-234.
From consensus to controversy: The story of the NCTM Standards. In G. M. A. Stanic & J. Kilpatrick (Eds.), A History of School Mathematics. Reston, VA: NCTM, in press.
(with S. H. McLeod) Beliefs and mathematics education: Implications for learning, teaching, and research. In G. Leder, E. Pehkonen, & G. Toerner (Eds.), Beliefs: A Hidden Variable in Mathematics Education? (pp. 115-123). Dordrecht: Kluwer, 2002.
From consensus to controversy: The story of the NCTM Standards. In G. M. A. Stanic & J. Kilpatrick (Eds.), A History of School Mathematics (Vol. 1, pp. 753-818). Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 2003.