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About Us

Started in fall 2021, the Math Education Collective (MEC) group offers high-quality school-based mathematics support for educators through Boise State University. If you’re interested in working with us, please reach out to Michele Carney.

Learn about Our Projects

Leadership

  • Michele Carney headshot

    Michele Carney

    Professor

    Michele is a Professor of Mathematics Education at Boise State University. She has worked as a teacher, math coach, district math coordinator, and professional development specialist. Her focus is K-12 mathematics instruction and assessment and has led several large-scale projects focused on improving mathematics education. She currently serves as the director of the Regional Math Center.

    Curriculum, Instruction, & Foundational Studies

    Michele is a Professor of Mathematics Education at Boise State University. She has worked as a teacher, math coach, district math coordinator, and professional development specialist. Her focus is K-12 mathematics instruction and assessment and has led several large-scale projects focused on improving mathematics education. She currently serves as the director of the Regional Math Center.

  • Joe Champion headshot

    Joe Champion

    Professor

    Dr. Champion has a master’s degree in mathematics from University of North Dakota and a Ph.D in Educational Mathematics from University of Northern Colorado. He works collaboratively on mathematics education projects at all levels, often drawing on large-scale analysis of educational outcomes, with special focus on mathematical and statistical modeling.

    Dr. Champion has a master’s degree in mathematics from University of North Dakota and a Ph.D in Educational Mathematics from University of Northern Colorado. He works collaboratively on mathematics education projects at all levels, often drawing on large-scale analysis of educational outcomes, with special focus on mathematical and statistical modeling.

Our Team

  • Jayce Bell

    Jayce Bell

    Regional Math Specialist

    Jayce has a M. Ed. In STEM education and over 13 years of experience teaching in secondary schools as a math teacher, coach, instructional lead, and mentor. He has a passion for supporting teachers to connect deeply with student-centered pedagogy and research-based methodology. As a Regional Math Specialist he works to support teachers in a variety of ways.

    Jayce has a M. Ed. In STEM education and over 13 years of experience teaching in secondary schools as a math teacher, coach, instructional lead, and mentor. He has a passion for supporting teachers to connect deeply with student-centered pedagogy and research-based methodology. As a Regional Math Specialist he works to support teachers in a variety of ways.

  • Rhonda Birnie headshot

    Rhonda Birnie

    Regional Math Specialist

    Rhonda has been in education for over 30 years. In her role as a Regional Math Specialist she works closely with teachers and administrators, providing professional learning opportunities that focus on developing students’ mathematical thinking. One of Rhonda’s standout passions is her dedication to making mathematics accessible to all students, including English language learners and those who face challenges in the subject.

    Rhonda has been in education for over 30 years. In her role as a Regional Math Specialist she works closely with teachers and administrators, providing professional learning opportunities that focus on developing students’ mathematical thinking. One of Rhonda’s standout passions is her dedication to making mathematics accessible to all students, including English language learners and those who face challenges in the subject.

  • Christa Carver headshot

    Christa Carver

    Regional Math Specialist

    Christa’s experience includes classroom teacher, reading and math specialist and coach. She is passionate about supporting educators to meet the students experiencing difficulty in math. In her role as a Regional Math Specialist, she instructs the TMT course, facilitates ongoing professional development and coaching, and leads the Teacher Leader Community.

    Christa’s experience includes classroom teacher, reading and math specialist and coach. She is passionate about supporting educators to meet the students experiencing difficulty in math. In her role as a Regional Math Specialist, she instructs the TMT course, facilitates ongoing professional development and coaching, and leads the Teacher Leader Community.

  • Angela Crawford headshot

    Angela Crawford

    Research Scholar

    Angie is a researcher in mathematics education. She studies the learning, teaching, and assessing of students who experience difficulty in mathematics classrooms. Her research interest developed out of 18 years teaching math to students who experience difficulty in whole class, intervention, and one-to-one learning environments in K-12 settings.

    Angie is a researcher in mathematics education. She studies the learning, teaching, and assessing of students who experience difficulty in mathematics classrooms. Her research interest developed out of 18 years teaching math to students who experience difficulty in whole class, intervention, and one-to-one learning environments in K-12 settings.

  • Bethany Gochnour headshot

    Bethany Gochnour

    Regional Math Specialist

    Bethany has a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Boise State University and a doctorate in Learning and Organizational Change from Baylor University. She has a wealth of experience as an educator serving as a teacher, interventionist, and math coach. She is passionate about supporting all learners in the rural settings.

    Bethany has a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Boise State University and a doctorate in Learning and Organizational Change from Baylor University. She has a wealth of experience as an educator serving as a teacher, interventionist, and math coach. She is passionate about supporting all learners in the rural settings.

  • Giselle Isbell headshot

    Giselle Isbell

    Regional Math Specialist

    Giselle has over 30 years in the classroom and experience with supporting school leaders. In her role as Regional Math Specialist, she works with educators in various roles, including teaching the Teaching Mathematical Thinking courses, assisting with the Math Teacher Leadership Community, and providing schoolwide math support.

    Giselle has over 30 years in the classroom and experience with supporting school leaders. In her role as Regional Math Specialist, she works with educators in various roles, including teaching the Teaching Mathematical Thinking courses, assisting with the Math Teacher Leadership Community, and providing schoolwide math support.

  • Miranda Lambert headshot

    Miranda Lambert

    Regional Math Specialist

    Miranda’s experience in education includes various roles throughout Idaho districts including elementary and secondary classroom teacher, family engagement coordinator, and secondary math instructional specialist. In her role as a Regional Math Specialist, she works with educators providing schoolwide math support, supporting student achievement through various grants, and teaching TMT courses.

    Miranda’s experience in education includes various roles throughout Idaho districts including elementary and secondary classroom teacher, family engagement coordinator, and secondary math instructional specialist. In her role as a Regional Math Specialist, she works with educators providing schoolwide math support, supporting student achievement through various grants, and teaching TMT courses.

  • Emily Leckie headshot

    Emily Leckie

    Regional Math Specialist

    Emily has more than 20 years of experience as an educator. Her experience includes middle school math teacher, elementary instructional coach, and middle school vice principal. She is passionate about education and learning, especially in public education. In her current role as a Regional Math Specialist, Emily supports teachers and schools through Idaho.

    Emily has more than 20 years of experience as an educator. Her experience includes middle school math teacher, elementary instructional coach, and middle school vice principal. She is passionate about education and learning, especially in public education. In her current role as a Regional Math Specialist, Emily supports teachers and schools through Idaho.

  • Ashley Keil headshot

    Ashley Keil

    Math Education Program Manager

    Ashley has extensive experience managing various projects, including education programs, donor relations, event planning, and national and community engagement projects. Her passion is to support communities by finding new and creative ways to make a positive difference. In her current role, Ashley manages and supports multiple programs.

    Ashley has extensive experience managing various projects, including education programs, donor relations, event planning, and national and community engagement projects. Her passion is to support communities by finding new and creative ways to make a positive difference. In her current role, Ashley manages and supports multiple programs.

  • Jenny Mattravers headshot

    Jenny Mattravers

    Regional Math Specialist

    Jenny has more than 20 years of experience in education. She spent 14 years as a classroom teacher and has worked as a math instructional coach, math consultant, interventionist, and federal programs director. As a Regional Math Specialist, she works across projects to improve teaching and learning in Idaho’s math classrooms.

    Jenny has more than 20 years of experience in education. She spent 14 years as a classroom teacher and has worked as a math instructional coach, math consultant, interventionist, and federal programs director. As a Regional Math Specialist, she works across projects to improve teaching and learning in Idaho’s math classrooms.

  • Sean Spagnolo headshot

    Sean Spagnolo

    Regional Math Specialist

    Sean’s roles span various districts in the Magic and Treasure Valleys, encompassing middle and high school classrooms, district leadership, and building administration. With a background in both traditional and alternative education, he currently serves as a Regional Mathematics Specialist at Boise State, facilitating professional development and working on the High School Mathematics Badging Project.

    Sean’s roles span various districts in the Magic and Treasure Valleys, encompassing middle and high school classrooms, district leadership, and building administration. With a background in both traditional and alternative education, he currently serves as a Regional Mathematics Specialist at Boise State, facilitating professional development and working on the High School Mathematics Badging Project.

  • Ramey Uriarte headshot

    Ramey Uriarte

    Regional Math Specialist

    Ramey has more than 25 years experience as a middle school mathematics teacher, instructional coach, and a math specialist. He brings experience in implementing research based mathematics instruction and teacher leadership. He currently works as a specialist providing professional development to mathematics teachers and coaches to help better math education in schools.

    Ramey has more than 25 years experience as a middle school mathematics teacher, instructional coach, and a math specialist. He brings experience in implementing research based mathematics instruction and teacher leadership. He currently works as a specialist providing professional development to mathematics teachers and coaches to help better math education in schools.

  • Rachael Welder headshot

    Rachael Welder

    Research Scholar

    Dr. Welder has a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of North Dakota and a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from Montana State University. She has over 20 years of experience teaching at the collegiate level, preparing and supporting K-12 teachers of mathematics. Her research interests surround the ways in which teachers develop deep, specialized content and pedagogical knowledge and how this knowledge supports their teaching mathematics conceptually. As a research scholar, her work focuses on the collection and analysis of data and dissemination of results.

    Dr. Welder has a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of North Dakota and a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from Montana State University. She has over 20 years of experience teaching at the collegiate level, preparing and supporting K-12 teachers of mathematics. Her research interests surround the ways in which teachers develop deep, specialized content and pedagogical knowledge and how this knowledge supports their teaching mathematics conceptually. As a research scholar, her work focuses on the collection and analysis of data and dissemination of results.

  • Lucas Younger headshot

    Lucas Younger

    Regional Math Specialist

    Lucas has myriad experience as an educator, having served the roles of secondary math teacher, secondary counselor, district instructional coach, university clinical faculty and math specialist. He channels this background into a passion for holistic education through research-based student-centered effective teaching practices. He currently provides professional development to secondary math educators.

    Lucas has myriad experience as an educator, having served the roles of secondary math teacher, secondary counselor, district instructional coach, university clinical faculty and math specialist. He channels this background into a passion for holistic education through research-based student-centered effective teaching practices. He currently provides professional development to secondary math educators.