Featured Speakers

OAME 2026 FEATURED SPEAKERS

Daniel Ansari

Western University

Daniel Ansari is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Faculty of Education at Western University in Canada, where he heads the Numerical Cognition Laboratory (www.numericalcognition.org). Ansari and his team explore the developmental trajectory underlying both the typical and atypical development of numerical and mathematical skills, using both behavioral and neuroimaging methods. Ansari has a keen interest in connecting the science of learning with education and served as the President of the International Mind, Brain and Education Society (IMBES) from 2014-2016 and is currently the Director of the Centre for the Science of Learning at Western University. Ansari has published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals. He is a member of the The College of the Royal Society of Canada, and a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science as well as the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.

Octavia Beckles

York Region DSB

Octavia Beckles is a York Region District School Board educator who has served in the role of a Mathematics and Culturally Relevant and Responsive Practices Consultant. In that role, Octavia supported the implementation of culturally responsive comprehensive mathematics programs that reflect students' identities and lived experiences. She has been leading and facilitating professional learning on equity in mathematics and has been featured in key learning through ETFO, OAME, and school districts provincially. Octavia encourages educators to critically examine mathematics curriculum and the ways learners are engaged through an anti-colonial, anti-oppressive and anti-racist lens. She has been an Equity Reviewer with the Ministry of Education. Octavia is committed to building educators’ capacity to identify barriers and rehumanize mathematics to create opportunities for all students to be successful. She believes that teaching and learning is best achieved when children see themselves reflected in the learning and that nurturing positive identity-affirming spaces for children to thrive empowers them to reach their full potential.

Alex Lawson

Lakehead University

Dr. Alex Lawson believes any child can and should experience success in elementary-level math...provided they are delivered solid instruction. As an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Lakehead University, her expertise involves investigating how we learn mathematics and is interested in the way math is taught in our education system, particularly in the primary grades. She has completed a seven year longitudinal project following the mathematical development of 50 children from the beginning of Gr. 1 through to the end of Gr. 5 in reform-oriented classrooms. The study comprised detailed video documentation and analysis of their thinking and growth over time leading to the publication of What To Look For: Understanding and Developing Student Thinking in Early Numeracy. Working in the Multi-data Convergence Lab, the team collaborated to review over 8000 clips of students solving problems and track the progress of each student's learning.

Chris Luzniak

Debate Math

Chris Luzniak is ready to show you how math is debatable (more than you think)! As an international math consultant, author, and podcaster, he challenges students and educators to learn the art of arguing. His nearly 20 years of teaching mathematics began in New York City public schools, where he also founded and coached the Speech and Debate team. Through this combination of teaching and coaching, Chris has developed debate routines that bring student voice, discussion, and argumentation into the math classroom. He coaches teachers in both math and science to develop real-world debate activities for students. Some of his work can be seen in his book Up for Debate! or heard on The DebateMath Podcast. Get ready to Debate Math!

Cathy Marks Krpan

University of Toronto

A former classroom teacher, Dr. Cathy Marks Krpan is a professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, at the University of Toronto, where she teaches graduate courses in mathematics education. Her research interests in mathematics include argumentation, self-talk and visual representations. Cathy often works with classroom teachers and school districts across North America and internationally on effective teaching and learning strategies in mathematics. An award-winning author and educator, Cathy’s recent publications, Teaching Math with Meaning (Pearson Education Canada) and Concept Circle Thinking Routines (Didax, USA) explore ways to empower all learners in developing rich mathematical thinking. Cathy is a recipient of the Margaret Sinclair Award, a national award that recognizes innovation and excellence in mathematics education. She can often be seen in the early hours of the morning joyfully loading up her car with many boxes of wonderful mathy things.

Marian Small

One, Two, Infinity

Marian Small has authored more than 100 resources for teachers and students at the K- 12 level. She writes and speaks about K-12 math around the world. Her focus is on teacher questioning to get at the important math, to include and extend all students, and to focus on critical thinking and creativity. Some resources she has written include:

More Good Questions: A Great Way to Differentiate Secondary Math Instruction
Good Questions: A Great Way to Differentiate Math Instruction
Uncomplicating Fractions
Uncomplicating Algebra
The School Leader’s Guide for Building and Maintaining Math Success
Understanding the Math We Teach and How to Teach It
Teaching Mathematical Thinking
Fun and Fundamental Math for Young Children
Open Questions for the 3 part lessons
Do They Really Understand?
Math Up
Experience Math

Ian VanderBurgh

University of Waterloo

Ian VanderBurgh has been the Director of the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC) at the University of Waterloo since 2005 and a teaching stream faculty member in the Faculty of Mathematics at Waterloo since 2000, teaching mainly first- and second-year calculus and algebra courses and online courses in the CEMC’s Master of Mathematics for Teachers (MMT) program. In 2008, Ian received a Distinguished Teaching Award from the University, and in 2016, Ian won the Canadian Mathematical Society's Excellence in Teaching Award. He enjoys sharing his love of math with students and teachers and has led workshops throughout Canada, as well as in India, England, Luxembourg, Ghana, and Kenya. In November 2024, he became Special Advisor to the Provost on Strategic Enrolment Management.

TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT VISIT: https://www.oame.on.ca/mcis

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