Elizabeth D. (Betty) Bjork, 70, of Lincoln, Mass., and New Harbor, an innovative mathematics educator and curriculum developer, died on June 6, following a brief illness.
Born in Medford, Mass., on July 5, 1936, Betty was the daughter of John Doane and Margaret (Dedrick) Doane.
She grew up in Belmont, Mass. and graduated from Belmont High, class of 1954. Many of her friendships from those years endured, and she served on the Belmont High reunion committees every five years.
Betty graduated from Tufts University in 1958 with a B.A. in sociology and psychology. She was an active Tufts alumna and at the time of her death, involved in preparing for her class’s upcoming 50th reunion.
In 1959, Betty married Albion (Al) Perham Bjork. They moved from Bedford, Mass. to the home they built in Lincoln, Mass. in 1967.
In 1968, Betty earned her M.Ed. in mathematics education at Boston University, where she was inducted into Phi Lambda Theta Honorary Society for Women in Education.
She began her career as a teacher and mathematics educator in the Lincoln Public Schools in Massachusetts, where over the years she served as assistant principal, mathematics supervisor, and computer coordinator.
From 1964-1974, Betty worked with Robert B. Davis, a renowned mathematics educator, on the Madison Project curriculum, a curriculum that is still in use today. In the 1980’s, Betty was a leader in the implementation of computer technology in the classroom. In 1985, she founded and directed the EdCo Computer Center, a resource center for teachers and administrators in the Boston area. She also served as a partner in the Education Technology Center at Harvard University.
In 1987, Betty joined Education Development Center, Inc., in Newton, Mass., where she served as Project Director for curriculum development and teacher enhancement projects. She directed the development of numerous educational software and curriculum products, many of which won national awards. Betty was particularly proud to co-direct the development of materials for the America Counts challenge.
Betty served as chairperson of the 1995 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) conference in Boston. She also helped organize other computing in education and mathematics conferences over the years.
She served as the treasurer of the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in Massachusetts for more than 10 years. She was also one of the founders and chairperson of the Boston Area Mathematics Specialists.
Betty was loved and admired for her energy, enthusiasm, and compassionate mentoring of younger friends and colleagues. Former colleagues often described her as the “Energizer Bunny of mathematics education”.
Known as a gourmet cook, she enjoyed entertaining a wide circle of friends. Her special passions were traveling in Europe and the Caribbean, her home on Johns Bay in New Harbor, and especially her husband Al and her four grandchildren, Timothy, Erik, Danica, and Cameron.
In addition to her husband and grandchildren, she is survived by her daughter Kristen D. Bjork and partner Margaret Sandin of Waltham, Mass.; and niece, Jill (Gallagher) Cielinski and husband Matthew Cielinski of Keene, N.H.; and niece, Joni (Gallagher) DiCastro of Fitchburg, Mass.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Betty’s name to the Elizabeth Stone House, P.O. Box 300039, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, www.elizabethstonehouse.org/how.htm or to the Class of 1958 Scholarship Fund, Tufts University, P.O. Box 3306, Boston, MA 02241.
Services will be private.
