Who Are We? Meet Your O34ME Executive

Welcome: The Ottawa Zone for Mathematics Education (O34ME)

On behalf of O34ME (The Ottawa Zone for Mathematics Education, Ottawa Chapter of OAME) Executive & Council, I'd like to start by introducing the members of the 2022/23 Executive. I am both privileged and honored to be working alongside such an enthusiastic, committed and dynamic group of educators serving Mathematics Educators in the Greater Ottawa Region.

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with each of our Executive members.

Yours in #mathedu,

​​Chris Stewart, OCT
O34ME 2019-22 President

---

Your 2022/23 Executive

Karyn Hepburn, OCT

Role: President

• In collaboration with the Chapter Vice-president, provide leadership—aligned to O34ME's guiding principles—necessary to keeping the Chapter operational and effective

​Current Roles in Math Education:

• Math and Science Teacher in the Education and Community Partnership Program at M. F. McHugh Education Centre in Ottawa (Teaching and supporting teachers, Gr 9 to 12)

Perspectives & Aspirations:

• I believe in giving students many chances to show their learning in math and to use the classroom environment and the outdoors as a way to encourage students to see the math around them.
• I'm Interested in improving my assessment practices in mathematics--valuing process as well as product.​

Stephanie Bishop, OCT

Role: Vice-president

• In collaboration with the Chapter President, provide leadership to the organization

Current Role in Math Education:

• Board-based Math Lead, Program and Learning Department, Ottawa-Carleton DSB​

Perspectives & Aspirations:

• Details are on the way!​ ​

​

Tony Alexander, OCT

Role: Membership Coordinator

• Maintains a current listing of members, communicates with membership as directed by the Executive, and makes proposals for expanding membership

Current Role in Math Education:

• Secondary Occasional Teacher
  

​Perspectives & Aspirations:

• I believe that we make the greatest strides in learning when we are frustrated and confused. I find this notion exciting!

• My current goal is to continue to learn as much as I can about Mathematics Education: participating in seminars, talking to other teachers, and learning everything about the amazing online tools being used in classrooms today!

Gregory Taylor, OCT

Role: Secretary

• Handles all correspondence of the organization as directed by the Executive

Current Role in Math Education:

• Secondary Mathematics Educator

Perspectives & Aspirations:

• Given enough motivation and time, anyone can learn anything.
  
• ​Motivate as much as possible and try to do the best with the time that’s available.

Chris Stewart, OCT

Role: OAME Chapter Representative

• Prepares and presents chapter reports at OAME Board of Directors meetings; reports to the O34ME Executive on the business of OAME
• Attends OAME council meetings as required, representing the interests of O34ME​

Current Role in Math Education:

• Secondary Math Educator, North Grenville DHS, Kemptville, Upper Canada DSB), @math_inquirer​

​Perspectives:
When students are inspired to share and discuss their thinking and reasoning, they become their own and others’ teachers! An educator's role is then to help guide their students to becoming better at this — the content students learn is a vehicle to serving conversations. How to engage in the process of learning is the core of all teaching and learning. rs in all subjects.
​ 
Aspirations:

• Through classroom-, school-, and system-related work, I will be collaborating to create opportunities for educators and their students to experience the joy and wonder associated with learning mathematics. 
• I'm curious as to how research intersects with pedagogical practice and have engaged in action-based research in the following areas: Professional Learning Communities, Student Voice, and Flipped Learning. Currently, I'm interested in exploring the impact of Thinking Classrooms, Culturally-Responsive & Relevant Pedagogy, Instructional Leadership, and Virtual Learning Environments on student learning.

Natalie Robinson, OCT

Role: Treasurer 

• Responsible for the accounting and banking of all funds of the organization

Current Role in Math Education:

• Secondary Mathematics Educator

Perspectives & Aspirations:

• I believe students need to struggle and then succeed, be challenged and then successful, be listeners and then share, be learners and then teach, be independent and collaborative, to truly learn and grow.  I enjoy providing them this environment!
  
• ​​​I am interested in building teaching communities that can share and learn together with the goal of creating the best learning environment for all of our students.

Jimmy Pai, OCT

Role: Ex Officio Member

• An OAME Director/President/VP who sits on the O34ME Council
• Carries insight and wisdom on the history of OAME for input on any Executive meetings

Current Role in Math Education:

• I teach secondary students by involving mathematics

Perspectives:

• It is imperative for Mathematics Education to be about people.  In other words, re-humanizing Mathematics is of paramount importance so that we can uplift students who have been oppressed throughout their circumstances and experiences, and open doors for students to be a part of the beauty and utility of mathematics - paradox of the mess and precision, of chaos and order.

Aspiration: 

• To listen hermeneutically, at least once, to all that I encounter

Melissa Black, OCT

Role: Ex Officio Member

• An OAME Director/President/VP who sits on the O34ME Council
• Carries insight and wisdom on the history of OAME for input on any Executive meetings

​Current Role in Math Education:

• I currently teach Grade 9-11 math, with a particular love for the Grade 11 college math stream;
• OAME VP for the 2021-2024 term.

Perspectives:

• I believe all students have the right and desire to succeed in math, you just need to point out and focus on their strengths so that they feel confident in their abilities.
• The college math students in particular need this in order to not limit their course choices for grade 12, developing good communication and connection with these students is of utmost importance to me.

Aspirations: 

• To develop connections with students in the current virtual world.
• To leave my mark in the math community when I retire.

---

Questions About O34ME? Support for Professional Learning?

Contact