A mathematics educator from John Carroll University will address connections between the Common Core State Standards for math and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education on Sept. 23 at Bluffton University.

Speaking in a Bluffton forum at 11 a.m. in Founders Hall, Linda Gojak will discuss how she believes the standards can improve math education from kindergarten through college, as well as STEM education in general. Her presentation is free and open to the public.

Gojak is director of the Center for Mathematics and Science Education, Teaching and Technology at John Carroll, located east of Cleveland in University Heights. She is also immediate past president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Common Core is a national initiative—which has become increasingly controversial—that details what K-12 students should know in both English/language arts and math at the end of each grade level.