Board of Directors
Nanci Smith, Ph.D., NBCT
Nanci is using her passion and commitment for mathematics education as a full-time consultant in the areas of Mathematics, Curriculum and Assessment, Differentiation and PLCs. She has been a national and international consultant for fourteen years and has provided professional development in 47 states and 9 countries. As a former high school teacher and university instructor, she brings over 20 years of experience to help teachers realistically implement our new standards. Nanci loves working with teachers and teacher leaders to develop deep mathematical understandings through cool and engaging activities and tasks to pass on to their students.
Nora G. Ramirez
Nora’s work as a mathematics education consultant focuses on promoting equity, conceptual understanding, and effective instruction for all students, especially English language learners and students with disabilities. She recently co-edited and co-authored Beyond Good Teaching: Advancing Mathematics Education for ELLs. She actively participates in several mathematics education organizations and serves as a member of many advisory boards throughout the nation.
Allison Davis serves on the AATM Board as Secretary. She works as a STEM kindergarten teacher in the Chandler Unified School District, specializing in teaching math to primary-age students. She also provides professional development for K-2 teachers around the state. She has presented her ideas about how to increase classroom discourse and differentiation at many national conferences. She has also presented ways to bring mathematical concepts to the forefront a STEM lesson and activities. She was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 2012.
Ed began his service as a board member of the Arizona Association of Teachers of Mathematics (AATM) in 1992. He first served as the State Coordinator for the State High School Math Contest and is currently the treasurer. In 2006, Ed co-authored, “AIMS-Math” Barron’s Test Preparation Series, a study guide to prepare students taking the Arizona AIMS Math Test. Ed is currently teaching at Hamilton High School in Chandler. Ed enjoys finding new ways to incorporate technology into the classroom. During the last several years, he recruited and trained teachers throughout the East Valley in the use of the WebWork homework system.
Barbara Boschmans, PhD.
Dr. Barbara Boschmans received a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Mathematics Education, a Master’s degree in Mathematics Education, and a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Mathematics and Technology Education from Northern Arizona University. She currently is the director of the Lumberjack Mathematics Center at Northern Arizona University. She teaches mathematics content courses to future elementary teachers as well as a variety of first year college mathematics courses. She is interested in the mathematics education of preservice and inservice elementary and middle school teachers and the appropriate use of technology in mathematics. Barbara is the university rep as well as newsletter editor.
Regional Vice President - Southern
Melissa Hosten serves on the AATM Board as the Southern Region Vice President. She has taught elementary, middle, and high school students, worked as a mathematics specialist and a standards coordinator and has led professional development workshops for administrators, teachers and parents throughout Arizona. She has worked nationally in the area equity and mathematics education through her work with Women and Mathematics Education, TODOS, and the National Girls collaborative Project. Her work with mathematics has been presented at National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Arizona Association of Teachers of Mathematics (AATM), and other conferences. Currently, Melissa is a Co-Director for the Center for Recruitment and Retention of Mathematics Teachers at the University of Arizona, where she supports teachers and school districts throughout southern Arizona.
Regional Vice President - Maricopa
Stefaney Sotomayor is a Grant Implementation Coach in the Glendale Elementary District. Her experience includes curriculum and assessment development, and facilitating professional development related to mathematics, STEM integration, and differentiation. She has served at both state and county levels to create curriculum support materials related to state standards and with item analysis and standard setting on both the AIMS and AZMERIT. She is also an active member of the Arizona Standards Revision Work Group. She has developed a true passion and understanding for best learning and teaching practices related to mathematics, and enjoys guiding students, parents, and fellow teachers to a better appreciation and success within the world of Math.
Regional Vice President - Western
Tara Guerrero is the Math Coordinator for Crane School District in Yuma. Tara joined the AATM Executive Board in September 2013. A native to Yuma, AZ, she is currently in her 12th year as an educator having taught at both the elementary and middle school level. With her deep passion for math education, she currently works to provide professional development and support to district leadership and teachers. She cares deeply about the learning and teaching of mathematics, which is why she proudly serves as a representative of math educators across Mohave, LaPaz, Yavapai, and Yuma Counties.
Regional Vice President - East Central
During the past two years Gail has worked with Gila County schools in her job as the Gila County Educational Service Agency Education Specialist. Her major responsibility has been in raising awareness of and providing training in the Arizona College and Career Readiness standards and practices with teachers and administrators throughout Gila County. Another part of her job is being a PARCC representative and Arizona Educator Leadership Cadre member. In prior years she has been a school and district level administrator and her tenure as a teacher of K-8 students continues over 20 years.
Regional Vice President - Northern
Kimberly Dugdale is the Math Specialist for St. Johns USD in St. Johns, AZ. She joined the AATM Board of Directors in October 2016. She is currently in her 20th year as an educator having taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels, as well as the college level. With her deep passion for mathematics education, she currently works to provide professional development and support to district leadership and teachers. She cares deeply about the learning and teaching of mathematics, which is why she is an ADE certified Common Core Math trainer. She has provided numerous workshops on understanding and implementing Arizona’s mathematics standards and is on the 2016 Math Standards Revision Committee. Kimberly also works closely with the Northern Arizona Regional Center.
Erin Nelson currently teaches the accelerated math courses for 6th and 7th grades, and general Math 7 at Sinagua Middle School in the Flagstaff Unified School District. She is the department chair for the mathematics department, serves as the district Math 7 lead. She also mentors many of the new staff members in her department. Erin works along side her colleagues to refine lessons focused on the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards. She is a part of a mathematics department that is committed to creating a unified middle school curriculum shared between both middle schools in FUSD. She also serves as the Vice President of the Northeast Region for Arizona Association of Teachers of Mathematics.
Kimberly Rimbey, Ph.D., NBCT
As a highly-decorated professional developer, curriculum director, math coach/specialist and classroom teacher, Kimberly brings nearly 30 years of experience to the K-12 education field. Kim’s passion for impacting great mathematics teaching and learning emerges in her work with teachers and their leaders in her roles as Co-founder and CEO of KP Mathematics and as the Director of Curriculum and Assessment for the Buckeye Elementary school District. In the past decade, Kim achieved National Board Certification in Early Adolescence Mathematics, received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, and was named Alumna of the Year at Grand Canyon University. Kim serves on numerous curriculum and assessment committees throughout Arizona and the U.S.
Nicole began her service as the Membership Chair of the Arizona Association of Teachers of Mathematics (AATM) in 2007. She also has Co-Chaired the Fall Conference for the past couple years in addition to managing AATM’s social media sites. Nicole is currently teaching at Santan Jr High School in Chandler. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and two kids!
Finance Chair/Historian/Mini Grants
Jean Tsuya is a recently retired mathematics teacher with 32 years of experience in the classroom and as a mathematics instructional coach. Jean currently works as a consultant in mathematics education. In addition she serves as the Past President of AATM; elections chairperson; and conference committee member on the board. Jean’s passion is working with both students and teachers to empower them through mathematics.
Algebra Contest Coordinator
Sal Vera serves on the AATM Board as the Arizona Algebra Contest Coordinator. He was a former High School Mathematics teacher for 9 years, Middle School teacher for 3 years and Community College instructor for 10 years. Sal has served as curriculum coordinator and department chair at the High School level, tutor supervisor at the university level and has served as a mentor teacher to numerous pre-service teachers. Sal is currently in his second year in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics as a full time Lecturer at Northern Arizona University. At NAU, he serves as the tutor supervisor for the Lumberjack Mathematics Center and teaches a variety of first year college mathematics courses. He enjoys working with students of all grade levels and encourages them to engage with mathematics through group work, problem solving and the use of technology.
STEM Conference Representative
Jane Gaun currently serves as the K-12 Mathematics Coordinator for the Flagstaff Unified School District. She oversees the development and implementation of mathematics curriculum and instruction and also coordinates and instructs professional development activities for teachers and administrators designed to strengthen mathematics teaching and learning. Jane facilitates the newly formed Secondary to Post-Secondary Mathematics Collaborative between mathematics instructors from FUSD, Coconino Community College, and Northern Arizona University. She has worked for the Coconino County Educational Services Agency providing learning opportunities for teachers throughout Northern Arizona and is an active member of the Arizona Association of Teachers of Mathematics where she serves as the STEM Conference Representative.
Copper Apple Award Chair
Chryste Berda serves on the AATM Board as the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Representative. She has taught elementary, middle, and high school students, worked as a mathematics curriculum coordinator and instructional coach and led professional development workshops for administrators, teachers and parents throughout Oregon and Arizona. Her work with mathematics has been presented at National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Arizona Association of Teachers of Mathematics (AATM), and other educational seminars and conferences. Currently, Chryste is the Administrator of Curriculum and Professional Development at the Rodel Foundation of Arizona, where she designs and creates classroom math resources and workshops that are written for the new mathematics standards.
Brian Burns is currently the Testing Coordinator for the Glendale Elementary School District. He began his service as the Webmaster in October of 2016. Brian has taught middle school math and science in the Cartwright School District for 5 years before becoming an Instructional Coach in Glendale Elementary. After 2.5 years of Instructional coach he moved into his current position. Brian has attended every AATM Annual Conference since 2007.