Anna and Avery have taught students in public and private schools for almost 40 years combined. They have taught summer institutes for teachers focused on Mathematical Habits of Mind for the past three summers. We believe everyone has the ability and right to engage in deep mathematical thinking. That said, we acknowledge that math is used as a tool of oppression. Math is used to compare and rank students, creating and perpetuating high- and low-status. Math is used as a gatekeeper to advanced classes, to college, and to graduation. Math is used to defend racist policies, from “an economic argument” for enslaving people to racial profiling. At the same time, we believe math has the potential to be a tool for justice, that mathematics can be used to critique social constructs, promote positive change, and empower. We aim to create, support, and sustain a culture of access and equity that is responsive to students’ backgrounds, experiences, cultural perspectives, traditions, and knowledge. We strive to achieve this both for our students as well as for everyone who participates in our workshops.
Anna Blinstein
I have been a middle and high school math teacher and professional development leader for the past sixteen years, working in a variety of public and private settings. I am drawn to this work by a love of uncovering the joy, exploration, aha moments, and connections within mathematics. There is perhaps nothing more rewarding as a teacher than seeing students becoming confident problem solvers.
Avery Pickford
I am currently a high school math teacher in San Francisco and the way I teach math ≠ the way I was taught math. I’ve had the pleasure of teaching math and science at almost every grade level, and my favorite age to teach is [whatever age I am teaching at the moment]. I believe that everyone can do math. I believe that math is a creative endeavor and a tool for social justice.
Interested in onsite professional development we offer? Contact us at avery.pickford@gmail.com to learn more.