Coordinator of Learning Services & Math SpecialistRebecca Stewart
I nerd out about educating diverse learners and teaching math because I was once a struggling math student. I missed most of third, fourth, and sixth grade due to a chaotic upbringing. I transitioned 21 times between 12 different schools before I graduated from high school. My weak auditory processing and working memory (no mental scratch pad to hold onto numbers) made me feel insecure. Yet with hard work and the support of a few amazing math teachers, I was able to take Calculus my senior year and pass the AP exam.
As a result, I have been dedicated to making all subjects, especially math, accessible and relatable to all students since I became a teacher in 2005. My background allows me to appreciate the challenges many students experience learning and apply this cognitive empathy to find fun and innovative ways to reduce anxiety and build understanding. I have helped students find strategies to learn and retain concepts across the country, in both high-need urban communities, as well as in large and small schools that span the socioeconomic spectrum. I have taught and held teaching licenses in California, Oregon, Nebraska, and Virginia. I currently have a professional teaching license from Virginia in both special education and math.
I hold a Master’s degree in Education Leadership as a Math Specialist for grades K-8 from George Mason University, a Credential as an Education Specialist for students with mild/moderate disabilities from San Francisco State University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a certificate in African-American Studies from Princeton University. I am so excited to be applying my experiences and expanding my knowledge with the Middle School team of teachers, parents, and students at McLean so everyone meets their potential and discovers how they learn best!
When I’m not in the classroom, I enjoy spending time with my family, pictured here in our homemade math-inspired Halloween costumes, reading, laughing, and watching or playing ice hockey!