Journal Editor

My belief in the transformative power of education begins with an immigration story. My great-grandparents immigrated from a mountain village in Greece and came to Chicago where they pushed a fruit cart through the ethnic neighborhoods selling bananas. When my popou (grandfather) was a young boy, a request for money to see a movie with friends was met with great hesitation. However, if he asked for money to buy a book or pencils, the money was instantly handed over. It was clear that my great-grandparents placed a high premium on education. They believed that having an excellent education was paramount to creating opportunities in life. With this in mind, my great-grandparents, the fruit vendors, put their two sons through college and then medical school. This belief system about the transformative power of education was passed down in my family from generation to generation, and instilled in me from a very young age. I have dedicated my life to ensuring that others, in particular students who have been marginalized, have access to an exceptional education. I believe that transformational teachers and leaders, and excellent schools will empower others to overcome structural barriers and succeed in life. As a classroom teacher in public schools, I taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade mathematics to primarily Black and Latinx students. I also worked as an instructional coach to support the teaching and learning of mathematics, and as an administrator for a program that supported multilingual, K-8 students. In higher education, I have taught students who are incarcerated, as well as face-to-face and on-line courses to undergraduate and graduate students. I am both thrilled and humbled to serve NCSM as the co-editor for the Journal of Mathematics Education Leadership.