Dr. Shelly Jones, Ph.D. ’02, has always enjoyed learning about math and science, but she loves teaching these subjects even more.

Her passion for education led Jones to pursue a Ph.D. in mathematics education at Illinois State University and author the book Women Who Count: Honoring African American Women Mathematicians.

“I am a teacher’s teacher,” said Jones, a professor of mathematics education at Central Connecticut State University. “I learn so much from my students, whether they’re pre-service teachers or teachers in the classroom.”

Jones, who was a middle school algebra teacher in Bridgeport, Connecticut, picked Illinois State for her Ph.D. program because of a grant the University offered for middle school educators working toward their doctorate degrees.

She described Illinois State’s program as a “powerhouse of math educators” who made her feel confident in her decision to become a math teacher.

“I understood how to teach math, but once you get a Ph.D. in a subject, it brings it to a whole other level,” said Jones. “You’re really learning about how students learn and how to engage teachers in professional learning so they’re lifelong learners.”

In 2019, Jones extended her impact beyond the classroom by authoring Women Who Count: Honoring African American Women Mathematicians, a math activity book designed for third through eighth-grade students.

The book features biographies of 29 African American women, including women who worked for NASA, the first three African American women to earn doctorates in math, and other pioneers in the field. Jones also included contemporary mathematicians such as scholars Dr. Talitha Washington and Dr. Chelsea Walton.

The inspiration for Women Who Count initially came from Jones’ colleague who recommended the book Hidden Figures to her just a few months before the movie premiered in 2016.

“I never knew that these Black women existed and helped with the space race,” said Jones. “I think having role models like these women will help young girls and boys to know that all kinds of people can do all kinds of things.”

Women Who Count contains biographies for each mathematician with their accomplishments, the type of math they do, and some fun facts to help keep students engaged.

“That’s why I included things like the names of Chelsea Walton’s dogs, Dr. Boom Boom and Mr. Mischief Maker,” said Jones. “Those pieces of information really help students connect with the mathematicians.”

Jones also included creative math problems that involve unscrambling words or interesting facts and solving puzzles.

“I want to show them the kind of math activities you can do that are interesting, fun, and that math is more than just a worksheet in a classroom,” said Jones. “Yes, I want them to make connections to what they do in the classroom, but I want it to be more about the enjoyment of math and how you can connect it to things you do in real life.”

In addition to Women Who Count, Jones has co-authored two books about culturally relevant math education with Illinois State alumni Dr. Lou Matthews, Ph.D. ’02, and Dr. Yolanda Parker, Ph.D. ’04. The book, Engaging in Culturally Relevant Math Tasks: Fostering Hope in the Elementary Classroom,contains an edition for both elementary and secondary levels.

Along with learning math, Jones hopes some students are driven to pursue a career in the field. As a first-generation college student, Jones didn’t know she could earn an undergraduate degree in math. Instead, she pursued a bachelor’s in computer science and became a programmer before pivoting into the math education field.

In her 30 years as a math educator, Jones’ appreciation for trailblazing mathematicians such as Dr. Evelyn Boyd Granville, the second African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in math, has increased exponentially. She even got to meet Granville in 2019 at the National Association of Mathematicians 50th celebration.

“It was a really big deal for me to have written about her in the book, see the pioneering work she did at NASA and other places, and be able to introduce her at the event,” Jones said. “She never wanted to stop doing math and helping students, even in her retirement community she liked to do different puzzles with residents to keep her mind busy.”

During Black History Month, Jones said it’s important to learn about and honor the legacy of impactful African Americans such as Granville.

“Some people think we should honor our ancestors all year, and I also agree with that, but having this time set aside is important,” said Jones. “I do think that women should be uplifted so there are more role models for all students, but in particular for young Black girls to see that they can do these things in STEM.”