MICRO-BIO

• I was born and raised in the United States. I spent the 90s working on two mathematics education reform projects out of the University of Pittsburgh, where I was working on my doctorate. There I began my work as an expert on classroom documentation...More

  I was born and raised in the United States. I spent the 90s working on two mathematics education reform projects out of the University of Pittsburgh, where I was working on my doctorate. There I began my work as an expert on classroom documentation and teacher development. I moved to Beirut, Lebanon at the age of 35 and still reside there. My husband is Lebanese and I have two step-daughters and so far 2 grandchildren and a gaggle of pets. In 2013 I partnered with my sister and former colleague Ghinwa Itani Malas to form our own Education Consultancy. We support schools that want to improve and innovate; our aim is to help our clients reach their own goals and sustain those efforts. I have traveled extensively in the US, Canada, Middle East, parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. I spent 8 years teaching at the American University of Beirut and directing their Science and Math Education Center. I have worked on school and other institutional start-ups in KSA, Dubai, Lebanon and China. I am an ongoing participant in the international group, Mathematics Education into the 21st Century. I am a fierce advocate for inquiry-based and interdisciplinary learning at all levels. I am an experienced International Baccalaureate School Head and a trained IB-PYP consultant. In my heart I believe school as we know it is obsolete and should be radically rethought. 

  Less

EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

• University of Pittsburgh

  • Ed.D.
  • September 1991 to December 2000

  Degree in Curriculum & Instruction with courses in Cognitive Studies in Mathematics Education. Worked on my doctorate part-time while serving as research specialist and senior author on the QUASAR and COMET projects funded by Ford Foundation and operated out the Learning Research and Development Centre at Pitt.

• Benedictine College

  • B.A.
  • September 1982 to May 1986

  Double major: Mathematics and Psychology

Interests

• Te Dx

• Learning Stories

• Teacher Authorship

• Teaching

• Math Education

• International Baccalaureate

• Inquiry

• Reggio Emilia

• Early Years Education

Links

• Grey Matters Education
• TEDxBeirut 2012 Talk: Young Children Are Competent