Math for America

Congratulations to MƒA Master Teacher Dr. Jude Julien, who teaches chemistry at Virtual Innovators Academy, and MƒA Master Teacher Gabe Rosenberg, who teaches mathematics at Bard Early Colleges for winning the 2026 MƒA Muller Award for Professional Influence in Education.

Presented annually to two exceptional New York City public school teachers, the award recognizes MƒA Master Teachers whose influence, leadership, and professional contributions have had a lasting impact on mathematics and science education. Earlier this month, they were honored at our Muller Award Ceremony and End of Year Celebration, where they each received a $20,000 prize and celebrated another wonderful school year with fellow teachers.

Read the full announcement at the link and join us in congratulating these outstanding MƒA teachers in the comments below. https://bit.ly/4xAxrx2

Last month, we wrapped up our 2025–2026 MƒA Thursday Think speaker series with a fascinating talk by Dr. Angelo Soto-Centeno: Bats and the Biodiversity Crisis: Extinction and Resilience.

Dr. Soto-Centeno an Assistant Curator in the Department of Mammalogy at American Museum of Natural History explored the biodiversity crisis through the lens of bats—one of the most diverse mammalian groups on the planet. With a special focus on bats from the Caribbean and NYC, he shared insights into the natural and human-driven forces shaping species diversity and survival, offering a deeper understanding of insights into the mechanisms that shape species resilience.

View previous talks from this past school year https://bit.ly/3QzT14d

"I can’t imagine doing anything else other than teaching. When I was in high school, my chemistry and global history teachers inspired me to become an educator by embodying genuine joy and care. I knew then that someday I wanted to make that same kind of impact on others too. Coincidentally I now work at my former high school and they’re my colleagues! I feel very fortunate.

Many people assume teaching is a career you get stuck in and there’s no change for years but the experience is what you make of it. I’ve had countless opportunities to explore new ideas and continue growing as a professional. The best word to describe it is unpredictable because there’s never a dull moment."

MƒA Teacher Talk: MƒA Master Teacher Jaime Aurelia teaches Mathematics at Staten Island Technical High School: College Preparatory, Engineering NY

This year’s Summer MƒA Family Adventure: Radical Genius Lab was out of this world! 💫

The community gathered with their families at the NYC Lab School for Collaborative Studies for an afternoon of curiosity, racing through obstacle courses and hands-on science fun, including straw rockets 🚀, chromatography, Oobleck, and an exciting science demonstration led by the Crazy Science Show.

A huge thank you to our incredible teacher-led event planning and community-building team for designing such a meaningful and radical day.

At last month’s MƒA Thursday Think speaker series, Vanessa Vakharia presented "Math Therapy: Understanding and Overcoming Math Trauma.” Known as the Lady Gaga of mathematics education, she discussed why mathematics frightens so many students and how educators can transform this fear into courage, curiosity, and even passion. She presented the 5 M’s of her “Math Therapy” framework that specifically address the dynamics of fear and how it manifests in mathematics classrooms. Watch the full talk here - https://bit.ly/3QOM67b

Join us on May 14 for “Bats and the Biodiversity Crisis: Extinction and Resilience” as Dr. Angelo Soto-Centeno explores the drivers of species loss (and survival) through the lens of bats, including habitat fragmentation, climate change, and human impact. Learn more on the MƒA website - MathforAmerica.org/events hashtag

Appreciation for MƒA teachers, by MƒA teachers 💫

Our campaign is back! Each year, we take a moment to celebrate the incredible educators in the community. We invite teachers to share messages of gratitude 💌 to a fellow teacher (or teachers!) in MƒA who make a positive impact on others and the profession at large. 👏🏼💌

Take a look at some of the heartfelt messages shared, then join in! Tag a fellow teacher and spread the appreciation in the comments.

This June, MƒA President Maria Klawe, a mathematician, computer scientist, and longtime champion for expanding access to STEM, will be one of seven to receive honorary degrees at Dartmouth. She will deliver the keynote address at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth’s 2026 Investiture Ceremony and will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree. Learn more at the link below.

Math for America President Maria Klawe to Deliver Dartmouth… The mathematician, computer scientist, and champion for expanding access to STEM will deliver the keynote address at Thayer School of Engineering at…

Searching for ways to spark engagement in his 7th-grade math classes, MƒA Master teacher Andrew Rodriguez joined an MƒA book club to discuss “Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics” by Dr. Peter Liljedahl.

While he expected thought-provoking discussions with his colleagues, Rodriguez could not have predicted how profoundly the experience would transform his teaching practice.

Read how he gained the confidence and support to overhaul his math class setup and curriculum in "Building a Better Classroom” on the MƒA blog. https://bit.ly/4w1JS4s
Building Thinking Classrooms

Building a Better Classroom How MƒA Master Teacher Andrew Rodriguez gained the confidence and support to overhaul his math class setup and curriculum.

“Science requires creativity in designing experiments, and art requires creativity to develop and articulate a coherent vision.”

During a MƒA mini-course led by MƒA Master Teachers Gilbert Papagayo and Brittany Klimowicz, teachers explored bacterial transformation, protein structure, and recombinant DNA through an unexpected medium: microbial agar art. They designed their own agar art, discovered new resources, and reimagined how to make a complex topic like bacterial transformation more accessible in the classroom.

Read more in "Picassos in the Laboratory: Creating Agar Art in the Classroom” on the MƒA blog.

Picassos in the Laboratory: Creating Agar Art in the Classroom MƒA Master Teachers Gilbert Papagayo and Brittany Klimowicz invited teachers to explore bacterial transformation, protein structure, and recombinant DNA through microbial agar art.

Rebooting Tech Culture: A Fireside Chat with Telle Whitney and Maria Klawe

During an intimate conversation, senior technology leader and author Telle Whitney and MƒA President Maria Klawe reflected on leadership, organizational culture, and the responsibility institutions have to create environments where diverse talent can thrive.

In Dr. Whitney's new book, Rebooting Tech Culture, she explains that the same values at the heart of a culture of innovation—creativity, courage, confidence, curiosity, communication, and community—can also foster a culture that is welcoming to all employees. Why reboot now? Telle believes in “the power of technology and what’s possible with it.”

Watch the full talk at the link in our here. https://vimeo.com/1178952485