[Sarah] + Schaefer
Principal, Mathodology, Atlantic Beach, FL
Sarah Schaefer, M.Ed., is the founder of Mathodology and lead author of think!Mathematics and Developing Roots (Kindergarten). She has been teaching K-12 Mathematics in public and private schools since 1995. She understands your challenges when it comes to teaching and learning mathematics as she has lived the process. Schedules are limited. Classes are short. Change is constant. Teachers are being pulled in many directions while looking for ways to connect with students to enhance their understanding of mathematical content. As an early adopter of the Singapore methodology, Sarah’s iterative approach optimizes performance and maximizes knowledge retention. Sarah is passionate about mathematics, teaching, and creating relationships that result in deeper content knowledge. Her extensive experience implementing the Singapore curriculum, both nationally and internationally, has involved not only students and teachers, but leading institutes which have adopted her collaborative process. While teaching at the prestigious Bolles School, Sarah created the curriculum from the ground up by simplifying and focusing on delivery and developing content knowledge. She empowers teachers, students, and parents to be creative in how they think about and understand mathematics, resulting in a more valuable and meaningful learning environment.
[Dr. Yeap] + Ban Har
Director of Curriculum & Teacher Development- Pathlight School, Singapore
Academic Director for Singapore & Anglo Singapore International School, Thailand
![[Dr. Yeap] + Ban Har](/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Ban-Har-230x300.jpg)
Dr. Yeap Ban Har is an established name in Singapore Math. As an educator, he has taught classes around the world. As an academic, he has presented keynote lectures at international conferences and written for academic publications. He is also well-known for lesson study and is a specialist in the APEC Lesson Study Project.
Ban Har spent ten years at the National Institute of Education (Singapore), where he taught a range of teacher education courses, including graduate studies. He continues to teach courses and supervise practicums at tertiary institutions such as the National Institute of Education (Singapore), SIM University (Singapore), and Wheelock College (United States of America) in adjunct and associate positions. He also sits on the advisory board of the Professional Advisory Council of NTUC First Campus, a major provider of early childhood education in Singapore.
Ban Har holds Master of Arts in Southeast Asian Studies, Master of Education and Ph.D. in Mathematics Education.
[Mark] + Griffis
Director, Business Development & Communications
Mark has always had a passion for teaching and has instructed business courses both at the university and high school level. He is also an accomplished writer and published author and greatly enjoys collaborating with our communications team.
A lifelong resident of Florida’s First Coast, he met his wife Tasha at Florida State. They have three children and reside in St. Johns County, Florida. Mark’s favorite outlet is Northeast Florida’s natural amenities, equally enjoying woods and water.
[Tracy] + Ralys
Director of Customer Experiences
Tracy brings a wealth of business knowledge to her role as Director of Customer Experience. After graduating from the University of North Florida with a degree in finance, she honed her business skills working in the investment world at Merrill Lynch before choosing to stay home with her two daughters. During this period, she invested her time heavily in numerous volunteer initiatives, and enjoyed spending time with her daughters and husband, Steve.
Once her daughters left for college at the University of Georgia, she rekindled her entrepreneur activities and started her own business. To keep extra busy, she joined [Math]odology in 2020. Working behind the scenes, she meticulously ensures our clients receive unparalleled service.
[Fran] + Julien
Learning Services Administrator
Fran began her teaching career in 2014 after graduating from the University of South Florida, earning a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the nationally recognized Urban Residency Teacher Partnership Program. She began her work in public schools in Tampa, Florida, teaching mainly Math and Science in grades 3 – 5. As her personal philosophy of teaching began to evolve, she decided to accept a teaching position at a private school in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2018. There, Fran had the autonomy to develop curriculum and authentic educational experiences for her students. She has worked to empower students to understand themselves as learners. Upon returning to her hometown this year, she is transitioning from her career as a classroom teacher to live out a developing passion of hers: building teacher efficacy and strengthening pedagogical approaches in fellow educators.
Fran brings the perspective of an educator who has had the opportunity to implement practices of the Singapore methodology through Mathodology and think! Mathematics in her own classroom of fourth and fifth graders. As a result, she was able to witness monumental improvements in her students’ confidence and abilities as mathematicians. This further ignited her need to empower more educators to make small, but impactful changes in their classrooms and teaching practices in order to maximize student development.
Fran was born and raised in Land O’ Lakes, Florida. She likes to travel, loves coffee, and stays strongly connected to her local community. Aside from teaching, Fran’s heart is dedicated to volunteering and working alongside organizations that serve communities in Haiti. When she’s not working, you can find Fran enjoying local coffee shops, working out, planning her next waterfall hike, or spending time with friends and family. [Melissa] + Williams
Trainer| Kindergarten Teacher, Westminster School, GA
With a B.A. in Elementary Education, another B.A. in Specific Learning Differences-both from Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL, and a Certification for K-6; Melissa has over 10 years of teaching experience. She has taught in both the private and public sector including second grade and fifth grade at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, FL and currently teaches pre-first at the Westminster School in Atlanta. Melissa believes students need to be given the opportunity to experience math by exploring, playing, questioning, and discovering. She feels it is important for the teacher to create an environment that fosters these characteristics so students become engaged and ultimately enjoy mathematics. In her classroom, students are often seen playing math games and having hands-on experiences that enrich their understanding and love for math. Her journey with the Singapore approach began when she taught second grade at The Bolles School. They used Math in Focus as their text and Sarah Schaefer helped them create anchor tasks to include all students and to enrich their math curriculum. Melissa later moved to Atlanta and became a Pre-First teacher. Last year she was given the opportunity to pilot Developing Roots and then adopted the program the next year. Melissa believes in her community and participates in the Beach Clean-Up Crew of St. Augustine. She is the Teacher of the Year recipient for 2002 and 2003 and an Ottenstroer Grant recipient. Melissa’s husband is a retired Naval pilot. They enjoy family travel with their three teenage children and spending time in the outdoors. She loves being with her family.
[Neily] + Boyd
Trainer| Author Developing Roots Pre-K, Nashville, TN
Neily Boyd, M.Ed., has more than a decade of experience as a math educator, working with students and teachers from kindergarten through high school. Most recently, she served as the Director of Math for six elementary and middle schools in Nashville, TN. During her tenure, she implemented hands-on mathematics instruction designed to engage students in academic discourse and conceptual thinking. As a result, the schools showed some of the highest math growth in Tennessee, according to both state and national assessments.
As the parent of a preschooler and a first-grader, Neily became passionate about the role that early childhood math plays in setting students up for long-term success in mathematics. She now works with thousands of parents of young children all over the country to help them incorporate math conversation and play into their children’s daily lives. Neily is working with Sarah Schaefer and Cheri Gardner on writing the Developing Roots Pre-K Program.
[Cheri] + Gardner
Author| Instructional Strategiest, Audubon Charter School Upper Campus, LA
![[Cheri]+Gardner](https://mathodology.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Cheri-Gardner.png)
Cheri is a passionate practitioner who skillfully combines her biomedical engineering background with education. She has spent the last 25 years creating dynamic, student-driven classrooms that use best practices grounded in current research. As a certified Montessori teacher in grades Pre-K-6th, Cheri understands how to deliver instruction that encourages students to embrace challenges as exciting growth opportunities. She co-authored the Developing Roots Kindergarten Program (2020) with Sarah Schaefer and currently is the Director of Montessori Studies and Instructional Strategist in New Orleans. She is married and has 2 children.
[MJ] + Kinard
Grade 4 Teacher, Suwannee Intermediate School , Title 1
![[Gregory] + Bertha](https://mathodology.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/MJ-Kinard-230x300.jpg)
MJ Kinard is known amongst her peers as an innovating teacher who is passionate about bringing relevance and understanding to her classroom math instruction. As an elementary school educator in Suwannee County, MJ has exceeded all of the state benchmarks for excellence and now trains teachers in the Singapore Math® -based methods that have enhanced her natural abilities as a teacher. MJ has been recognized as one of Florida’s High Impact Teachers for the subject of Mathematics and is categorized as a highly effective teacher.
MJ graduated from Florida State University in 2003 with a degree in Elementary Education and is certified to teach grades K-6 with an endorsement for ESOL instruction. MJ has fourteen years of instructional experience with students at all levels of the elementary curriculum in both rural and Title One schools. MJ found such significant success in implementing Singapore Math® strategies in her own classroom that she was invited to train teachers in both Suwannee and Madison Counties before beginning her work with Mathodology.
[Patrick] + Huett
Math Specialist, Latin School of Chicago
![[Patrick] + Huett](https://mathodology.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Patrick-Huett-230x300.jpg)
Patrick Huett has 17 years of teaching experience spanning from Pre-Kindergarten through High School Seniors.
Patrick holds a Bachelor of Science – Elementary Education & Study of Exceptional Students from Texas Christian University and a Master of Education in Instructional Design from Western Governors University. In addition, he currently holds a teaching certification in Texas, Illinois, and California including certifications in Special Education, Elementary Education, Cross-cultural, Language & Academic Development, and Computer Concepts and Applications.
His special education experience includes being a case manager and, eventually special education coordinator. After over a decade in special education, I moved into Response to Intervention where I serve students who need math support and I facilitate/coach other teachers in supporting students through curriculum and instruction. With additional experience including
Lower School/Middle School – Math Intervention & Support
Response to Intervention (RTI) Facilitator/Coach Elementary grades
Special Education Coordinator – Middle School (Grades 5 – 8)
Special Education Teacher in Middle School and High SchoolEducational Consultant/Curriculum Correlation Project Manager for CLASS IEP
Patrick believes in providing access to all learners through meaningful mathematical experiences, purposeful context, models, and tools. He feels his role is to guide and facilitate students through the process of seeing the beauty in mathematics, prompting inquiry of the mathematical world around them.
[Michele] + Meyer
High School Teacher, Ponte Vedra High, FL
With a BA in Mathematics from Potsdam State, NY, a Masters of Science in Education from LeMoyne College, NY, and Teaching Certifications in 4 states: NY, VA, OH, and FL, Michele Meyer brings over eighteen years of experience and knowledge to Mathodology. Michele has taught General Math, Pre-Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, Functions, Sequential Mathematics I, II, and II, AP Calculus, and AP Calculus BC to 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students. Michele was a Florida Finalist in the Presidential Award of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). She holds a Golden Shamrock Award-a student-nominated, board-chosen award, for outstanding achievement from Dublin Ohio. The state of Florida asked Michele to make a video of her classroom that exemplified how to teach to the Florida State Standards. The state visited her Algebra I classroom to create the follow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwpK2Ks1d90 ing video Michele designed and implemented the Mathematics into Career and Technical Education Program (CTE) and was published by LeMoyne College. She loves her family, her husband of 23 years and 2 amazing children, the outdoors, especially the beach, swimming, running, and exercising. Michele enjoys cooking and gardening and loves to laugh and be with the people she loves.
[Amy] + Bilek
Math Instructional Coach, K-8, Frances Xavier Warde School, Chicago, IL
Amy Bilek earned a degree in Sociology, with a focus on education, from the University of Notre Dame while receiving an Elementary Education degree from St. Mary’s College. Following that, she earned her master’s degree in education from Loyola University. Amy has worked in education for 10 years and has always been passionate about supporting teachers in their instructional approach to mathematics.
Currently, she works as the K-8 math instructional coach at an independent school in downtown Chicago. She facilitated the school’s mathematics curriculum review and selection of the Developing Roots and think! Mathematics programs. She orchestrated the rollout of these programs, including leading the professional development for teachers and information sessions for parents.
Amy enthusiastically supports teachers to instruct in a way that fosters students’ love for mathematics. She has led various lesson study cycles that are centered on teaching through problem-solving. She values empowering students to be sense makers and perseverant problem solvers. Recently, Amy has worked to design an approach to fact fluency that is rooted in strategies and the development of number sense. Amy’s work centers on fostering a growth mindset for both the students and teachers she supports.
[Gregory] + Bertha
Math Instructional Coach, JK-8, St. Andrew’s School, Boca Raton, FL
![[Gregory] + Bertha](https://mathodology.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Gregory-Bertha-230x300.jpg)
Gregory Bertha is an elementary school math teacher who delivers rich math instruction for his 4th and 5th-grade students while coaching fellow educators to success with the Singapore Math® methods. With ten successful years of experience teaching elementary students in a private school setting, Greg has brought his own style to the Singapore approach. He is passionate about education and making mathematics meaningful and fun for students and teachers alike.
Greg serves as the Lower School Math Specialist at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School in Boca Raton, Florida. Working with students whose parents are known to be highly invested in their children’s education, Greg bridges the home/school connection with grace and enthusiasm for long-term understanding of difficult math concepts. Greg has been a pivotal leader in the implementation of the elementary Singapore Math® curriculum at his school from textbook adoption through staff training.
Gregory Bertha was the 2016 recipient of The Patten Family Foundation Grant for Sustaining Teaching Excellence. He holds certifications in K-6 Elementary Ed and also K-12 Exceptional Student Education. Greg shows exemplary gains in his classroom instruction, and his rich mathematics teaching builds a lifelong foundation for students. Greg’s love of education has progressed into a passion for training fellow educators to anchor each new math concept with consequential opportunities for significant success in learning.
[Anita] + Meadows
Curriculum Specialist K-6, St. Edward’s School, Vero Beach, FL
Anita Meadows began her career with a BA in Elementary Education, winning The Harriet Graves Beckley New Teacher Award in her second year. Anita continued to strengthen her craft through deliberate instruction, weaving concrete, pictorial, and abstract approaches into each of her lessons over the course of twenty years in both public and private schools. Anita is most passionate about bringing together culture, learning, and excellent instruction to raise teaching capacity. Anita serves as Lower School Math Specialist where her coaching and professional development lead both her students and colleagues to find success in math instruction. Anita’s understanding of the Singapore methodology developed under the guidance of Dr. Yeap Ban Har, and with that pedagogical understanding came strong gains for her students. Anita now shares the Singapore Math® approach with fellow educators who are “in the trenches” of education and searching for quick, strong, and assured guidance. Anita has received ongoing grants for her peers to attend [Math]odology Summer Institutes, won The Becker Excellence in Teaching Award, and currently shares her expertise at neighboring schools, presents at math conferences such as the Florida Conference of Independent Schools, presents to parent organizations at Saint Edward’s School, and is featured in videos found in the Engage New York curriculum. Whether online, in her classroom, or in front of a professional learning community, Anita models techniques that bring math concepts back to the purpose of the learning.
