MICHAELA EPSTEIN

• School is one part of a student's learning journey and should provide the starting point for a desire to learn more
   

• When we care about education, we develop strong opinions about what it should look like.
   

• Being skeptical of ideas we're presented with, including our own opinions, opens up conversation and helps us to see the world in different ways.

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What I do

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After searching for ways to make professional learning more meaningful, in 2020, I founded Maths Teacher Circles in Australia. MTCs bring primary and secondary teachers together to actively do maths and talk teaching on a regular basis. MTCs are designed to support teachers to get excited again about teaching maths. To date, over 1,000 teachers from across Australia and overseas have attended MTC sessions.

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In addition, I work with schools, school systems and organisations on initiatives that support primary teachers, secondary teachers, graduate teachers, out-of-field teachers, maths leaders and specialist teachers to create meaningful and sustainable change in maths.

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More broadly, I'm currently diving into and working with educators on these questions:
 

• What's needed for students to leave school feeling curious and competent in maths?

• How can we help students to better understand and remember what they learn?

• How can we help students to become independent, strategic and reflective problem solvers?

• How can teachers build their own content knowledge and confidence for teaching maths?

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Outside of my work, I enjoy watching my young daughter learn and grow, playing competitive dominoes, learning about statistics and philosophy and going hiking.

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This is what I've done

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In recent years, I have focused on maths education from different perspectives. To this end, I have:
 

• Designed and run professional development programs and worked closely with over 5,000 teachers globally

• Served as President of the Mathematical Association of Victoria

• Served on the boards of the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers, the Mathematical Association of Victoria and the Australian committee of the International Mathematical Modelling Challenge

• Had original problems and puzzles published in a range of publications and on commission for organisations, such as Felstead Education

• Taught mathematics and led teaching teams at schools in rural and urban areas

• Designed and implemented specialised mathematics programs to support and extend students

• Led a team of learning and instructional designers, responsible for producing maths content for over 55,000 students

• Spoken internationally at conferences, researched and written about curriculum, pedagogy, effective teaching practices and cognitive development

• Reviewed papers for the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia and for the Australian Council for Educational Research's Excellence in Professional Practice Conference

• I've also been featured on podcasts, including Maths Talk by AMSI Schools, the Fizzics Ed Podcast, Ignite EdTech Podcast and Toddcast Teacher Podcast.

 

Past clients and partners include:
 

• Camberwell Girls' Grammar

• Carey Baptist Grammar

• Heathmont College

• Hoppers Crossing Secondary College

• Primary Maths & Science Specialist Program, Department of Education

• Central Highlands Area Schools, Department of Education

• BioLab, the Victorian BioScience Education Centre

• EdPartnerships International

• Math4Love

• Monterey Secondary College

• Pivot Professional Learning

• Stile Education

• The Department of Education and Training Victoria

• The Mathematical Association of Victoria

• The Meet Pi Maths Festival

• The Pavilion School

• The Tutor Network

• Urbis Consulting

• Wimmera South West Area Schools, Department of Education