Keynote Speakers

Dr. Sarah B. Bush is a professor of K-12 STEM Education and the program coordinator of the mathematics education PhD track at the University of Central Florida. She teaches primarily graduate courses in mathematics education. She is an author of the recent book series, The Math Pact. Bush is actively involved in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, serving recently as an elected member of the Board of Directors (2019-2022). She served as lead writer and task force chair for Catalyzing Change in Middle School Mathematics: Initiating Critical Conversations, published in 2020. Bush seamlessly integrates her practical experience as a middle school mathematics teacher in public schools with her innovative scholarship to serve as an instructional leader in the field of mathematics education and STE(A)M education.

Kyndall Brown has over 35 years of experience in mathematics education. Kyndall holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, master’s degrees in computer-based education and mathematics education, and a Ph.D in Education. He was a secondary mathematics teacher for 13 years. He has been a professional development provider for schools and districts in Los Angeles County for over 25 years. He is currently the executive director of the California Mathematics Project. He presents at local, state, and national conferences on mathematics education. He writes articles for mathematics education publications. His research focuses on the impact of culture and identity on the ways that African-American males learn mathematics. He is the co-author of the book Choosing To See: A Framework For Equity In The Math Classroom.

Barbara Dougherty is a professor in mathematics education and the past director of the Curriculum Research & Development Group at the University of Hawaii. She served on the NCTM Board of Directors and currently a co-chair of the Joint NCTM/CEC Committee to support students who struggle in mathematics. She was also a member of the US Dept. of Education, IES, What Works Clearinghouse author panel for the March 2021 practice guide on assisting students who struggle in mathematics. She is the author of more than 35 books with the most recent M^Power: A Pathway to Understanding Algebra and soon-to-be published, Rich Algebra Classroom-Ready Tasks from Corwin. She holds certifications in 7–12 mathematics and K–12 SLD.

Dr. Amanda Jansen is a professor in the mathematics education program in the School of Education at the University of Delaware. Earlier in her career, Mandy was a middle school mathematics teacher in Arizona. She earned her Ph.D. in educational psychology at Michigan State University. As a teacher educator at the University of Delaware, she prepares future elementary and middle school mathematics teachers, and she facilitates professional learning for in-service secondary mathematics teachers. In her research, Mandy investigates how mathematics teachers create engaging learning experiences for their students. One product from this research is her book, Rough Draft Math: Revising to Learn, which was published by Stenhouse.

Deborah Peart is the founder of My Mathematical Mind and speaks on a variety of topics related to math identity, elementary math content and instruction, and literacy connections to mathematics. Blending her training in yoga and mindfulness with mathematics instruction, Deborah advocates for a mindful approach to teaching mathematics in order to address math anxiety, build confidence, and support the development of positive math identities. She has dedicated her career to supporting educators with innovative teaching strategies that allow students to see themselves as assets to the learning community and curious problem-solvers. She is the Director of Elementary Learning at UnboundEd and the lead author for second grade for the Illustrative Mathematics K-5 curriculum. Deborah believes that all children deserve high quality instruction and the opportunity to become competent readers, writers, and mathers.