September 2026 Newsletter

Welcome to Fall 2026

Maria Huizar-Diaz

I’m a senior at UNC majoring in Secondary Math Education with the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Endorsement. I am currently in STEP 363, and I will be student teaching in Spring 2027. When I’m not studying, I love hanging out with my family and drawing! Please stop by if you have any questions or just want to say hello!

Hayden Hyman

Hi, I’m Hayden Hyman, and I am a Secondary Math Education Major. I’m so excited to meet everyone in the program. I quite enjoy music, running, playing games, and Calculus. I am currently in STEP 363 and will be Student Teaching in the Spring of 2027. If you have any questions, need help with anything, or just want to say hi, please feel free to pop into the Peer Mentoring Office during my mentoring hours.

General Resources

There are many resources available to you if you need any type of assistance including:

• Faculty: Dr. Reiten (lindsay.reiten@unco.edu) coordinates the Mathematics Teacher Preparation Programs, teaches some of the classes required for the mathematics education program, and is a great resource. Her office is Ross 2230E
• Peer Mentor: The peer mentors are here to help you with any issues you may be having. We host mentor hours and Praxis Prep sessions in addition to being reachable by email. We will also hold community engagement opportunities to meet other people in the program. Our office is 2230B.
• Praxis Support: There are Praxis Prep sessions and the Praxis library. Right outside the Peer Mentor office, there is a bookshelf full of resources to help you prepare. There are study companions, practice tests, and specific subject review materials. They all can be checked out by scanning the QR code! Send this completed form to Tish Thompson (Letitia.thompson@unco.edu) to receive a voucher for 3 months of free access to 240tutoring, a Praxis study resource.

Praxis Information

• Students in the Middle and Secondary Mathematics Teacher Prep programs must take the Praxis test BEFORE submitting their application for full admittance to PTEP (due 1 March the spring before taking STEP 363).  To send your scores to UNC, use the code 4074 when taking the exam. You are given 180 minutes (3 hours) to complete 66 questions (not all questions are scored the same). Each attempt costs $130 but you can take it as many times as necessary. You must take the Praxis Exam before STEP 363 and pass before STEP 464 (Student Teaching). 
• Secondary 
  • Secondary Math Teachers (7-12) need to take Praxis 5165 and get a score of 159 to pass.
• Middle School
  • Middle School Math Teachers (6-8) need to take Praxis 5164 and get a score of 157 to pass

Mentor Hours

Mentoring hours will take place in Ross 2230B, and Praxis Prep Sessions will take place in Ross 2230G. Please fill out this Mentoring Hours Survey to let us know what hours would best support you!

MANDATORY Large Group Advising Sessions!

ALL students in the Middle School AND Secondary Mathematics Teacher Education Programs are REQUIRED to attend one of the following meetings:

• Wednesday, October 7th at 3:00pm virtually
• Thursday, October 8th at 3:30pm in Ross Hall 2238-I (Tentatively).

If you do not attend one of the meetings, you MUST meet with a peer mentor OR view a video and respond to questions about the advising session before you will receive your PIN. You will still need to meet with your advisor to get your PIN BEFORE registration begins in November.

Braly Geneva UNC Teaching $5000 Scholarship

The Braly Geneva UNC Teaching Scholarship is awarded to a single full-time UNC Undergraduate student pursuing a degree in education. Applicants must have a cumulative college GPA of at least 3.0. Applicants must have also completed at least 30 credit hours at the time of applying. The application deadline is October 11th. See this flyer for more information. The application portal can be found on the Longmont Community Foundation website. Questions should be directed to Lisa Tatusko at the Longmont Community Foundation (lisa@longmontfoundation.org; 303-678-6555 – extension 102 (office); 303-884-8244 – mobile) 

Practice Praxis Problems

Come to Mentor Hours to get the solutions!