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Meet Our DynaMath Advisors

Our teacher advisors come from all over the country and share a passion for math education. We're thrilled to have them on board!

Jim Adams · The Foote School · New Haven, CT
4th Grade Teacher

Jim Adams is in his 16th year working at the Foote School, where he teaches math, English, and social studies. After teaching fifth grade for the past 15 years, he will be taking on a new challenge and teaching fourth grade in 2019-2020. Jim received his B.A. in comparative literature from Brown University and his M.A. in English education from Columbia University's Teachers College. This is his 16th year serving as an advisor for DynaMath.

Lynn Cashell · Bethel Springs Elementary School · Garnet Valley, PA
4th Grade Teacher

Lynn Cashell is completing her 23rd year teaching in the Garnet Valley School District. She has served as a fourth-grade teacher for the past 17 years and spent the first six as an instructional support teacher. As an elementary teacher, she teaches all subjects but has always loved teaching math. However, she was an art major in college! The creativity needed for problem solving and critical thinking in math appeals to her creative soul. Lynn believes in empowering her students and uses project-based learning, design thinking, and real-world examples in her math lessons. She encourages the students to see math everywhere, because it is everywhere! 

Emily Strausbaugh · Spaulding Elementary School · Goshen, OH
4th Grade Math Teacher, Grade Level Teacher

Emily Strausbaugh has been teaching for 18 years, with 15 of them being in fourth grade math at Spaulding Elementary. She has an elementary education degree along with a master's in educational administration. In 2019-2020, she will be part of the team that is working to bring PBIS into her school. Emily enjoys reading and running 5k and 10k races. She has been happily married for 16 years and has two wonderful children.

Jayla Nowlin · St. Mary of the Mills School · Laurel, MD
4th and 5th Grade Math Teacher

Jayla Nowlin is currently a fourth and fifth grade math teacher at St. Mary of the Mills school. She received her B.S. degree in music education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Jayla was first introduced to DynaMath when she taught in a third- and fourth-grade multilevel classroom and has used it ever since! She is also a Girl Scout troop leader and has her own tutoring business. Jayla is honored to serve as a DynaMath advisor for the 2019-2020 school year!

Laura Commins · Lew Wallace Elementary 107 · Indianapolis, IN
6th Grade Teacher

Laura Commins is a sixth-grade teacher at Lew Wallace Elementary. After spending 14 years in New York City working with camps and after-school programs, she moved to Indianapolis to start her career as a classroom teacher through Indianapolis Teaching Fellows. She loves creating new and exciting ways to engage her students, and DynaMath's hands-on math lessons are an awesome way to do that!

Farrah Gilani · PS 56 · Queens, NY
4th Grade Teacher

Farrah Gilani has been teaching for 11 years. She started her career in private, schools where she taught fourth and fifth grades and also middle school math for one year. She’s currently part of an “Algebra for All” initiative in New York City that focuses on teaching math using a constructivist approach. In the summer of 2019, Farrah is looking forward to starting a Leadership in Math master’s program at Bank Street School of Education. 

Jaime McLaughlin · Chavez Multicultural Academic Center · Chicago, IL
5th Grade Math Teacher

Jaime McLaughlin has been an elementary teacher in Chicago public schools for 12 years. He is currently a fifth-grade math and science teacher at Chavez Multicultural Academic Center. Before becoming a teacher, he worked as a tax consultant for Andersen for 12 years. His financial services background has helped him bring a wider math perspective to the classroom by incorporating the Stock Market Game, Money Fair, and Architects in the Classroom, in which his classes have won numerous citywide competitions.  

Melanie Curro · Girls Prep Bronx Elementary · Bronx, NY
3rd Grade Math Teacher

Melanie Curro has been a teacher for eight years. She currently teaches third-grade math at Girls Prep Bronx Elementary in New York. She earned her M.S. in childhood education from the City College of New York. Melanie loves helping children discover ways to enjoy math. She is an avid reader and enjoys visiting museums.

Jennifer Mitchell · University of Texas at Tyler University Academy · Tyler, TX
3rd and 4th Grade Math and Science Teacher

Jennifer Mitchell has been teaching for seven years. She received her bachelor’s degree from LeTourneau University. She taught first grade at Trinity Episcopal School for two years before moving to Pine Tree Elementary, where she taught first- and second-grade. At her present school, University of Texas at Tyler University Academy, she will teach third- and fourth-grade math and science. She is ESL certified and gifted and talented trained. She also has her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from LeTourneau University. Jennifer teaches using a project-based learning and problem-based learning model. She has a passion for making learning fun and engaging for all students and teaching them to have a growth mindset at all times! 

Jessica Hoban · Kathleen H. Wilbur Elementary School · Bear, DE
Math Instructional Coach

Jessica Hoban graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and middle school mathematics. She later earned her master’s degree from Wilmington University in instruction, teaching, and learning. Jessica has been an educator for 11 years—four years as a fifth grade teacher and seven years as a math instructional coach. She lives in Newark, Delaware with her awesome husband, two amazing sons, and their crazy dog, Rosco.

Chauntae Brown · PS 80Q · Jamaica, NY 
2nd Grade Teacher

Chauntae has been teaching since 2005. In 2015, she started working at her current school, The Thurgood Marshall Magnet School of Multimedia and Communications PS 80Q, located in Jamaica, Queens. Her passion for teaching became more about becoming a better educator and reflecting on her practice, hence becoming a lifelong learner of education. She recently received her School Building Leader license and plans on embarking onto the next steps in her educational career. Chauntae was introduced to DynaMath when contacted to do an interview on a distance learning article in the September 2020 issue. Since then, she has been an avid user of DynaMath and incorporates it with every math unit she teaches. Connecting real-world math and literacy has been an amazing one-stop resource for her as a teacher, and her students LOVE IT! 

Stephanie Wollaston · Kathleen H. Wilbur Elementary School · Bear, DE 
4th Grade Teacher

Stephanie Wollaston is a 4th grade teacher at Kathleen H. Wilbur Elementary School. She graduated from University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and is currently working on her master’s degree in special education from Wilmington University. Stephanie enjoys creating hands-on and engaging activities that make her students excited to learn. Outside of school, she enjoys going to the beach and spending time with family and friends.

D’Jon Pitchford, M.Ed. · Pflugerville Independent School District · TX
5th Grade Math & Science Teacher

D’Jon Pitchford is a product and current 5th Grade Math and Science Teacher for Pflugerville Independent School District in Texas. He has been working with PfISD for going on 9 years now. The first 6 years he spent his time working with students in the afterschool program as a Site Director and Training and Development Specialist. Upon completion of graduate studies in May of 2019, focusing on Elementary Curriculum and Instruction, he became a classroom teacher. He earned Rookie Teacher of the Year for his campus and currently serves as his grade level team lead. Within his few years of teaching, he has sent several students to the Austin Regional Science Fair earning two first place finishes and two third place finishes. He loves working with children, coaching youth sports, and dedicating his life as a lifelong educator and learner.

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