Dr. Rita Barger came to UMKC in 1996 after retiring from the Hickman Mills School District. She was a mathematics teacher for 25 years.
“I knew I wasn’t ready to really retire,” she said. “UMKC had an opening in mathematics education, and I applied.”
Since then, she has held positions as Visiting Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor, Interim Director of Teacher Education, Interim Chair of Curriculum and Instructional Leadership, and is now Associate Professor and Chair of Curriculum and Instructional Leadership.
Dr. Barger said she most enjoys working with the students here.
“I learn so much from each of my students and I delight in seeing them grow into strong members of the mathematics education family,” she said.
Among her awards and accomplishments during her time at UMKC thus far are an MDHE grant for $137,587 for working with teachers in the KCMO School District, a New Faculty Teaching Scholar award (2002-03), Smith-Cotton High School Hall of Fame induction (2005), Missouri Outstanding Post-Secondary Mathematics Teacher (2008), School of Education Mission and Vision Award (2011), and the Outstanding Interdisciplinary Doctoral Faculty Award (2013).
Rita described how it feels to earn the Outstanding Interdisciplinary Doctoral Faculty Award.
“I think it feels the same as an astronaut’s first step out of the capsule into space – it is a wonderful feeling and a humbling feeling,” she said. “It is most meaningful because my doctoral students are the ones who nominated me.”
Dr. Barger is currently working on several projects, including developing an instrument for determining mathematical learning styles, studying beliefs of pre-service and in-service teachers about the teaching and learning of mathematics, and teaching critical thinking through the use of brain teasers. Her work is motivated by several sources, internal and external.
“I’m motivated by a love of teaching, my students, the needs of students everywhere for a strong foundation in mathematics, and the dialogues and discussions I have with colleagues and students,” she said.
She said she has learned a lot in the time she’s been at UMKC.
“Coming from K-12 education, I had to adopt a whole new way of thinking,” she said. “My future plans include the strengthening of mathematics education, especially in the Kansas City area, and working with my new and former students to learn more about the teaching and learning of mathematics.”
After being in education for 43 years, Dr. Barger said the next phase of her life will be retirement. But she’s not ready for it just yet.
“I always say that when I start wishing I could be doing something else, then I’ll know it’s time for me to retire,” she said. “Right now I don’t wish to be doing anything else than what I’m doing at UMKC.”
Dr. Barger has some advice for students who may become faculty members in the future.
“Remember that just because you say something once, doesn’t mean that your students understood or will remember it,” she said. “You have two important functions: contributing to the knowledge base in your field and teaching and inspiring the students in your classes. Don’t slight either for the other.”