Stacy Shaener, Severn School, Lower School Math Specialist
THE FACE OF DISCOVERY
Success in math involves much more than just working with numbers. It’s about developing a growth mindset and the confidence to tackle challenges when they inevitably arise. Lower School math specialist Ms. Stacy Shaener teaches kindergarten through 5th-grade students the skills they need to take ownership of their learning with creativity and joy. With a focus on real-world problem-solving, her students discover the many ways that math shapes our daily lives. Her classrooms buzz with energy as students eagerly share their thinking, help each other overcome challenges, and develop new ways of looking at the world.
“Helping students identify in themselves what they do well is so important. And we have to be really specific with students about what their strengths are. When I give feedback in class, it’s never just ‘Great job.’ I choose specific things from their work to help model this thinking for them, ‘I like how you were able to break up those numbers’ or ‘I like how you added on to Stacy’s idea.’’
Ms. Shaener believes that building a supportive community around math helps students reach their fullest potential. She teaches summer camps, leads teacher and parent workshops, and finds professional development opportunities to keep her curriculum fresh. Working with educators like math innovators Greg Tang, Jo Boaler, and Sue O’Connell, she models the same collaboration and positive enthusiasm she hopes to instill in her students. At Severn School and in our local community, Ms. Shaener is changing attitudes about math one smile at a time.
201 Water St. Severna Park, MD 21146 410-647-7700 www.severnschool.com
