Working together in partnership

Hello! My name is Teresa/Dr. Dunleavy, and I am a Seattle-based Mathematics Educator and Consultant.

My work focuses on developing systemic practices that:

  • support elevating the brilliance of all children and

  • dismantle the systems of oppression that have prevented children who are the furthest from justice in accessing the best that our education systems have to offer.

Across my 26+ years as an educator, I have consistently focused on supporting students who have not (....yet!) had the best experiences in and with math. By attending to the ways that some people see themselves as "good at math" while others do not, I study students' learning experiences, identity development, and the relationship between students' learning and the systems of inequity that perpetuate success for (only) some. I use these lenses to partner with teachers and students to improve their learning experiences and outcomes.

Education Leader

I have had so many amazing math ed professional experiences-- including as a:

  • paraprofessional,

  • high school math teacher,

  • math coach,

  • math education professor,

  • math education researcher, and

  • mathematics education consultant.

Earning a Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction in math education at UW Seattle helped me to understand more about how/when students see themselves in math, which strategies support the development of positive math identities and attend to status differences, and what kinds of barriers block systemic change. I center equitable and humanizing pedagogies, including practices inspired by complex instruction, to disrupt typical patterns of participation and success in mathematics. I am proud to have worked as an assistant & associate professor of the practice of mathematics education at Peabody College at Vanderbilt University, supporting hundreds of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students to learn about the practices that move toward equitable teaching and learning, and to have worked as a paraprofessional, teacher candidate, math teacher, and math coach, supporting thousands of public school K-12 students. Also as a mathematics educator who has had the privilege and honor to engage in extensive teaching experiences in six different states, I am deeply committed to understanding the histories of students, families, and communities, and how these histories have shaped the ways we interpret math learning. I center my commitment around addressing issues of status and power while supporting the development of students' perceptions of their mathematics competence.

Partnership Opportunities

  • developing and implementing systemic strategic plans

  • focusing on identifying collective goals, learning from one another, and leveraging strengths

  • 1:1 and small-group consulting supporting educators to work toward their goals

  • Partnership in research, mentoring, and writing projects

  • Building partnerships across stakeholders in education