Sandi Cooper, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
Dr. Sandi Cooper became associate dean for undergraduate education in 2024 and is also professor of mathematics education in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction. She oversees all programs, projects and administrative personnel associated with undergraduate education in the School of Education. Dr. Cooper leads the SOE’s Student Support and Services Group, where she works directly with the individuals involved in recruitment, admissions, scholarship awards, advising, clinical field experiences, teacher certification, education technology, and learning resources.
Dr. Cooper earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics Education at Texas A&M University in 1994 and is Coordinator of Mathematics Education, and Coordinator of the Informal Education minor. She is the Founding Director of the Online EdD in Learning and Organizational Change, the largest doctoral program at Baylor University. She teaches undergraduate courses in the elementary teacher certification program and graduate courses in mathematics education. The focus of her research is early number development, integrating children’s literature into mathematics instruction, teacher noticing, and mathematical experiences in museums.
Named Centennial Professor for 2016 at Baylor University and Baylor Fellow in 2021, Dr. Cooper’s recent research focus is related to early number development, specifically with children in PreK to second grade and the effectiveness of teachers who teach these early learners. In the summer of 2016, she established Math for Early Learners Academy (MELA), a month-long summer program for PreK children, designed to provide positive learning experiences focused on the development of early number concepts. To learn more about this program, go to www.baylor.edu/soe/mela.
Dr. Cooper served as Project Director and Co-Director of several funded projects including Eisenhower grants, a U.S. Department of Education Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers for Technology (PT3) grant, and the inaugural program for the Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics. She served on the Editorial Panel of NCTM’s Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School journal from 2011-2014 and was Co-Editor for a special focus issue (January 2014) Rational Number Sense. In addition, she was Co-Editor for a special focus issue (January 2016), Parent Engagement in Science and Mathematics Learning for the School Science and Mathematics Journal. In 2017-2020 , she served on the Editorial Panel of NCTM's Teaching Children Mathematics journal.
Dr. Cooper has served as President of the Texas Council of Teachers of Mathematics and President of the Central Texas Council of Teachers of Mathematics (2012-2014). She has served as Affiliate Director of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (2009-2011), Co-Executive Director for the School Science and Mathematics Association from 2006-2009, and inaugural President of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators in Texas from 2008-2010. In addition, she has served on numerous national boards, committees, and special task forces for professional organizations in Mathematics Education.