About Us
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Mission
Mission
The Silicon Valley Mathematics Initiative (SVMI) is a comprehensive effort to improve mathematics instruction and student learning. The Initiative is based on high performance expectations of all students, ongoing professional learning, and the examination of student work to inform and improve instruction.
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Vision
Vision
Our goal is to support rigorous, engaging, and equitable mathematics learning spaces that are highly interactive, robust, and focused on instruction that centers student agency and identity.
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Our Impact
Our Impact
The impact of SVMI extends beyond teachers—it reaches directly into classrooms, shaping the student learning experience. Our research-based instructional tools and assessment resources ensure students develop strong mathematical foundations and critical thinking skills.Meet the SVMI Team
Our team is made up of passionate educators, researchers, and innovators dedicated to transforming math education. Each member brings unique expertise and a shared commitment to supporting teachers and students. Together, we strive to create resources and programs that make a lasting impact on classrooms across the nation.
- Leadership Team
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Tracy Sola
Director, Assessment & Special Projects
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Jenny Cheng
Director, Professional Learning
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Stephanie Terrasas
Manager, Marketing & Membership
Stephanie Terrasas
Manager, Marketing & Membership
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Cindy Chin
Office Manager
Cindy Chin
Office Manager
Coach & Facilitator Team
Amie Choi
- Math is multidimensional.
- To know me is to know, that random phrases will lead into songs.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be an optometrist.
- SVMI has taught me a whole new world of math. As a teacher, I shouldn’t be the only one who sees how complex and beautiful math is. When patterns emerge, your math brain opens up to more possibilities.
- Currently, I am a K-6 Math Training Specialist, Sacramento City USD.
Amie Taylor
- Math is thought-provoking.
- To know me is to know, I love being creative, I am an empath, I enjoy watching sports, and I like to read romance novels.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be be a florist. I love flowers!
- SVMI has taught me the importance of utilizing student work and student generated ideas.
- Currently, I am a contract worker for SVMI (former HS math teacher and math content specialist).
April Cherrington
- Math is fun.
- To know me is to know, I Zentangle to relax and love to go to my grandchildren's soccer an water polo games.
- SVMI has taught me to enjoy struggling with good problems.
- Currently, I am a consultant for SVMI and a Support Provider for Math Interns at National University.
Carmen Whitman
- Math is essential
- To know me is to know, a professional bargain detective—why buy it in a minute when you can research it for hours and save a few cents?
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would cry.
- SVMI has taught me that using tasks to assess students’ understanding of math informs your practice in ways that no standardized test ever would and that re-engagement should not be feared.
- Currently, I am the Director of Mathematics For All Consulting.
Cecilio Dimas
- Math is problem solving.
- To know me is to know, I enjoy riding my bicycle & swimming.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would work in the travel industry.
- SVMI has taught me the importance and power of utilizing daily formative assessment to guide instruction.
- Currently, I am the Executive Director of SVMI.
Charles Shannon
- Math is empowering!
- To know me is to know, I love working with students.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would work in non-profit program development.
- SVMI has taught me the power of collaborative learning.
- Currently, I am First Grade Teacher for the Orinda Union School District and President of the Orinda Education Association.
David Foster
- Math is reasoning!
- To know me is to know, I walk my dog five miles a day, swim laps and enjoy the beach, Tahoe, and the wine country. I have a wonderful family that I never get to spend enough time with.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be unhappy in my job.
- SVMI has taught me to select great people and let them fly.
- Currently, I am the Founder of SVMI and semi-retired.
Debbie Borda
- Math is thought-provoking and super fun!
- To know me is to know, I am an avid Giants’ fan and animal lover.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would run an animal sanctuary.
- SVMI has taught me the power of learning collaboratively and that asking “what if…” leads to the next problem to solve.
- Currently, I am newly retired from the classroom after 37 years (yikes!) and am excited to be a facilitator with SVMI!
Donna Goldenstein
- Math is beautiful!
- To know me is to know, to know I love to do puzzles–all kinds of puzzles.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be unhappy. All I’ve ever wanted to do is teach! I’d love to work in a craft store.
- SVMI has taught me…students can do much more than we even realize.
- Currently, I am retired. In my spare time I am a consultant, MAC trainer and editor for SVMI.
Ed Campos, Jr.
- Math is POWER.
- To know me is to know I love hiking, meditating, making people laugh, and making charcuterie boards because it makes me feel fancy.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be be a writer for SNL or creating sketch comedy or pursuing a career in stand up.
- SVMI has taught me there are so many more amazing people to meet in my math journey and these amazing people like to congregate and do math, which is amazing!
- Currently, I am the director of a newly formed non-profit, Campo Creativo.
Erika Isomura
- Math is fun.
- To know me is to know, I love to read, I compete my dog in nose sports, I’m a certified yoga teacher, and I have donated my hair every 4(ish) years since college.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be working at a co-op bakery.
- SVMI has taught me that math is better (more fun, more interesting, and makes more sense) when done with other people.
- Currently, I am an upper-elementary teacher in Hayward USD.
Ethan Ducker
- Math is nature.
- To know me is to know there are more waves in the water than on land. Get out there.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be I would be a goat farmer and rent my flock out to people that need their brambles and poison oak removed. I’d just sit back and ponder the symmetry of the Universe while they chomped on down.
- SVMI has taught me to see the brilliance of each and every Math Thinker.
- Currently, I am a K-5 Math Specialist in Los Gatos USD, MAC Trainer, & Toolkit Writer.
Heidi Shimamoto
- Math is everywhere!
- To know me is to know, that the thing that I love most is spending time with my family. My happy place is in Hawaii, where I love to swim and enjoy the beauty of the islands.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be be a food writer or work in a test kitchen.
- SVMI has taught me to shift the focus of my classroom from a teacher centered to student centered environment. Student discourse is key and math talks can create a positive and equitable learning space for EVERYONE!
- Currently, I am a consultant for SVMI.
Janice Bussey
- Math is discovery.
- To know me is to know, I am a person with integrity.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be a Chef.
- SVMI has taught me that you never stop learning and growing.
- Currently, I am a SVMI Consultant focusing on Middle School and High School.
Jeff Trubey
- Math is discovery.
- To know me is to know, that I love to play sports & games. I’m very competitive.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be a racquetball or golf instructor, or retired!
- SVMI has taught me that math is a community of life-long learners.
- Currently, I am a Math Coach for SVMI concentrating on Performance Assessment and teaching Middle School Math in Fremont.
Jenny Cheng
- Math is beautiful.
- To know me is to know, I LOVE karaoke, and I do it completely sober!! I cannot sing but I fake it until I make it. I was once dubbed the Asian Leann Rimes for my rendition of “Can’t Fight the Moonlight.”
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be a coffee shop owner.
- SVMI has taught me the transformative nature of quality Number Talks for creating mathematically powerful learning communities.
- Currently, I am the Director of Professional Learning, Silicon Valley Mathematics Initiative.
Jenny Lopez
- Math is everywhere.
- To know me is to know, I am am mom of two children, a 4 year-old and a 1 year-old (and also a cat). Being with my family, friends, and watching stand up comedy I love watching stand-up comedy and being with my family.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be an engineer.
- SVMI has taught me methods to engage ALL learners in open, engaging tasks and the importance of connecting big ideas.
- Currently, I am co-founder of a math educational consulting company, TriPod EDU Consulting, and a Math Curriculum Specialist.
Jim Karditzas
- Math is language.
- To know me is to know, that I strive for excellence in all that I do. If something is worth doing, it is worth doing well.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be (after three careers, soldier, salesman, teacher) a curriculum writer and instructional coach.
- SVMI has taught me to expect more out of my students than anyone thinks possible by providing clear direction to final product and the opportunity to get there.
- Currently, I am just retired from 18 years at Sequoia Union High School District.
Joe Condon
- Math is everywhere.
- To know me is to know, my life revolves around my children, my wife, my friends and my dog, I need to be in the Redwoods at least once a week and skiing as well as hiking are my passions right now.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be a ski bum.
- SVMI has taught me that engaging students with challenging, rich problems is the key to unlocking a love for mathematics.
- Currently, I am freaking out! I have just retired from teaching after 31 years. It’s time to start my 2nd career… Hmmmmmmm.
Laily Jefferson
- Math is powerful.
- To know me is to know, that I love to laugh. Finding the joy in all that we do includes finding the humor in it. Laughing is good for the soul!!
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be working for the NSA as a coding analyst.
- SVMI has taught me how to support all learners with open and engaging mathematics.
- Currently, I am founder of a math educational consulting company, TriPod EDU Consulting.
Laura Pesavento
- Math is transformative.
- To know me is to know, I love traveling and oceans, and my favorite animal is a sea turtle. So anywhere I can go that combines those things brings me joy.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be a scuba dive master or a bookstore owner.
- SVMI has taught me that if you give children the opportunity to discover the beauty of math and patterns, they will come up with ideas beyond what you could possibly imagine.
- Currently, I am bilingual 2nd grade teacher in Hayward Unified.
Mariana Alwell
- Math is beautiful and under-appreciated!
- To know me is to know, that I “failed” retirement!
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be I would own a book or a plant store so I could hang out with friends all day!
- SVMI has taught me the joy of solving problems with my peers, the power of math talks to change class climate and the thrill of working with like-minded colleagues.
- Currently, I am ta consultant for SVMI and a Field Supervisor for SJSU & SCU Multiple Subject Student Teachers.
MaryEllen Nicholson
- Math is marvelous.
- To know me is to know, that God/the universe has a sense of humor.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be be performing in broadway musicals.
- SVMI has taught me humility (the more she learns & does, the less she knows) & that people can only learn when they take risks.
- Currently, I am co-founder of a math educational consulting company, TriPod EDU Consulting & an elementary math curriculum specialist.
Megan Alexander
- Math is powerful.
- To know me is to know, I’ve always loved cows. I have a small collection of artwork, figurines, and other decor that is cow/farm related.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be a professional golfer.
- SVMI has taught me how to use student thinking to guide instruction; how to provide access for students with diverse learning needs without compromising grade level math content.
- Currently, I am an instructional coach and professional learning provider in Tucson, AZ.
Mia Buljan
- Math is delightful.
- To know me is to know, that I only have old lady hobbies – bird watching, wild flower enthusiast, hiking and camping, crocheting things, growing things, sewing things.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be a gentleman’s farmer – livestock as pets, huge gardens and orchards, farm chores for days…..just give me a tractor and a pony, please and thank you.
- SVMI has taught me to give kids a problem worth doing and then, shush, and let them do it.
- Currently, I am a second grade teacher in Hayward Unified School District.
Pat Rogers
- Math is ubiquitous.
- To know me is to know, that I love reading cozy mysteries, historical nonfiction, and anything by Agatha Christie.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would teach American government and politics or work in a legislative office.
- SVMI has taught me perseverance, to look for multiple avenues while seeking a solution, and to face my math misconceptions with curiosity and humor.
- Currently, I am an SVMI consultant and Toolkit writer. When not working with SVMI I enjoy watching our grandchildren doing what they love (theater, swimming, and water polo).
Perrin Phillips
- Math is magical.
- To know me is to know, I Love playing basketball, working out, biohacking, & fantasy. I love researching new ideas in education, presenting, health, exercise, basketball, & fantasy.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be a storyteller, writer, and/or actor.
- SVMI has taught me facilitating a learning experience for students can be such a fabulous, puzzling journey that students bring so much background knowledge to.
- Currently, I am a teacher in Hayward Unified.
Raven Graham
- Math is engaging.
- To know me is to know, that I love the ocean.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be an environmental biologist.
- SVMI has taught me to be creative in my teaching.
- Currently, I am an elementary math RTI teacher for TK-5.
Rebeca Rios
- Math is creative.
- To know me is to know, I’m a concert junkie. I love live music. I have seen my favorite band (Pearl Jam) almost 40 times.
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be an artist or have an open art studio.
- SVMI has taught me how to make math more accessible to all learners by ditching my curriculum.
- Currently, I am a teacher for independent studies students 7th-12th grade in Milpitas Unified and a lecturer for Math Methods in the College of Education at SJSU.
Tracy Sola
- Math is fun!
- To know me is to know, that I am the worst dinner guest in the world because there are so many things I can’t eat. The group always invites me to pick the restaurant – haha. We have discovered lots of interesting restaurants in various cities and towns over the years because of this!
- If I weren’t a math teacher, I would be a groundwater hydrologist.
- SVMI has taught me that math is a team sport.
- Currently, I am the Director of Assessment and Special Projects at SVMI.