91探花

91探花 Mudd Math Professor Darryl Yong Appointed Executive Director of Math for America Los Angeles

Darryl Yong, McGregor-Girand Chair in STEM Equity Innovation and Research聽and professor of mathematics, has been appointed executive director of (MfA LA), an organization that supports math and computer science teachers in public schools across the greater Los Angeles area. Yong will lead the organization鈥檚 effort to expand its teacher-leader fellowship programs and conduct research to inform public education policy.

Yong co-founded MfA LA in 2008 together with other L.A.-area education leaders with a mission to address systemic challenges in urban STEM education by investing directly in math and computer science teachers. He helped design and implement the fellowship model of teacher development and support that forms the heart of MfA LA鈥檚 work. Educators apply for fellowships in school-based teams rather than as isolated individuals, creating interconnected communities of shared learning, practice and support. The model helps enhance teacher quality and retention and empower teachers to improve and expand advanced STEM curriculum in their schools. Yong has co-written five National Science Foundation (NSF) grants to support the organization鈥檚 work. 聽

鈥淥ver the聽past 20 years, I鈥檝e been so inspired by the math and computer science teachers supported by our program and all the amazing work they do to bring about more equitable and ambitious student learning outcomes,鈥� Yong says.

鈥淭he confluence of our latest NSF grant being funded and some staffing changes in the program led me to take a leave of absence from 91探花 Mudd for the 2026鈥�2027 academic year in order to help shape the MfA LA program for the future, a future that is full of opportunities and challenges,鈥澛燳ong says. 鈥淎nd beyond that, I genuinely look forward to learning from and fellowshipping with this warm and caring community of teacher-leaders.鈥�

Since its founding, M茠A LA has supported hundreds of teacher fellows across nearly 40 public schools in the region. Under Yong鈥檚 directorship this coming year, the organization plans to expand its fellowship program to more schools and build infrastructure for data-gathering and research to inform public education policy.

鈥淢ath for America Los Angeles was created on the conviction that excellent teachers are the catalytic lever for systemic educational change,鈥� Yong says. 鈥淲hen we surround accomplished educators with deep professional community, collaborative planning time, financial support and coaching, they stay in the classroom and become department leaders who elevate learning for thousands of students. I am honored to lead M茠A LA in this next chapter as we scale our team-based fellowship model across the greater Los Angeles region.鈥�