Bob Laird is a Research Associate in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Vermont where he works for the Vermont Mathematics Initiative (VMI), a three-year masters program for K-8 mathematics teachers and teacher leaders.  He serves as a course instructor and mentor for VMI participants. In addition, he develops resources and materials that help teachers connect mathematics content to their work with students. In 2007-2013, Bob co-led the Cincinnati Based Vermont Mathematics Initiative (CVMI) in Cincinnati, Ohio. An extension of the Vermont Mathematics Initiative, the CVMI impacted hundreds of Cincinnati Public School teachers and prepared approximately 30 mathematics teacher leaders to support effective mathematics instruction across the district.   In addition to his work at the University of Vermont, Bob is a Co-director of OGAPMath LLC. He has been involved in all aspects of OGAP since its inception in 2003. This includes research, development, trainings, support of teacher leaders at OGAP sites, planning at the systems level and direct work with teachers. Work in these capacities has brought Bob to Alabama, New Hampshire, Philadlphia, South Carolina and Amman, Jordan to name a few . Bob is co-author of A focus on Fractions: Bringing research to the classroom 2nd Ed. (Petit, M. M., Laird, R. E., Ebby, C. & Marsden, E. L. (2016). This book communicates the mathematics education research on how students develop their understandings of fraction concepts, common errors students make, and preconceptions and misconceptions that may interfere with the learning and application of fraction concepts. In 2012 and 2013 Bob worked with university instructors, teacher leaders, and teachers through the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST), and Kenan Institute Asia in Bangkok, Thailand. Bob also provides coaching and mentoring support to Vermont schools at the teacher, teacher leader and district leadership levels.  He has 21 years of classroom teaching experience in grades 5 through 8.  Bob was awarded the University of Vermont Outstanding Teacher Award in 1981.