PELL -- Consultants

Promoting Education for Lifelong Learning, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational consulting corporation based in New Orleans, LA whose mission is to build educational capacity within other organizations. If you are interested in supporting our work please visit our support page.

William Crombie, MS

Bill Crombie Based in Highland Park, New Jersey, Bill Crombie is an educational consultant specializing in mathematics and science and working primarily with middle and high schools. He has consulted to mathematics education programs to prepare low income and minority students for advanced study in mathematics and the sciences and is a specialist in the use of graphing calculator technology, and integrated instruction of mathematics and reading/writing literacy.

He is a Master Trainer for the National Algebra Project's Train-the-Trainer Program. He has been involved in the development and delivery of training programs for both teachers and trainers in the National Algebra Project. In collaboration with Bob Moses, the founder of the Algebra Project, Bill Crombie has contributed to the development of the Transition Curriculum Book I, short curriculum modules, and the African Drum and Ratios Curriculum. Mr. Crombie collaborated with Dr. James Burrus of McBer and Company, a Boston-based management consulting firm, in establishing the National Algebra's Project Train-the-Trainer Program. He has worked on both the design and delivery of the Algebra Project's Train-the-Trainer Intensive Workshop, Assessment Observer Workshop, Coaching for Development Workshop, and Concept Mastery Modules. Bill is the principal author of the Train-the-Trainer's Transition Curriculum Practice Units and Lecture Notes and the principal developer of the Polynomial Calculus Curriculum Framework.

Bill Crombie holds a BA in both mathematics and physics from Rutgers University and an MA in physics from the State University of New York @ Stony Brook.

Roger DeSanti, PhD

In addition to co-founding PELL, Dr. DeSanti leads the teacher education program at the University of New Orleans. Roger DeSanti, a Professor at the University of New Orleans, Louisiana State University System, has more than thirty years experience in helping people learn. He has worked with learners ages four through eighty-four from 25 states and 22 countries. Roger has been a frequent speaker at international, national and local venues. He has been published more than a hundred times.

Ira Nirenberg, MS

Prior to his affiliation with PELL, Ira Nirenberg taught Advanced Placement Physics at Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans, LA. Prior to his teaching career Ira was an exploration geophysicist at the Shell Oil Corporation. He is the author of two books, and has given talks throughout the world on topics in mathematics and science education. Mr. Nirenberg is currently a consultant with The American Board for Teacher Excellence.

Ira Nirenberg has a BA in Physics from Rutgers and a MA in Physics from Kent State University.

Andrew Talmadge, PhD

Andy Talmadge Dr. Talmadge offers extensive experience in:

  1. development of mathematics and science content knowledge
  2. implementing lesson study research teams
  3. developing middle and secondary mathematics and science curricula
  4. developing curricula using the UbD © model
  5. technology training for math & science
  6. program design for undergraduate and graduate math programs

In addition to co-founding PELL, Dr. Talmadge leads the middle and secondary level mathematics education programs at the University of New Orleans. Prior to joining the faculty at UNO he was the chair of the mathematics department at Dillard University. As the associate director of The National Faculty's Delta Teachers Academy from 1994 to 1998, Dr. Talmadge worked with more than 50 school systems to develop long-term, content-centered professional development programs for elementary, middle, and secondary teachers. In 2002 he advised Sichuan University (Chengdu, PRC) during their establishment of an actuarial sciences program.

Andrew Talmadge holds a PhD in applied mathematics from North Carolina State University.