Amongst recent reports and debates around best practice in Mathematics education, the discussion has become more divisive than ever. How can we move forward?

This session features Jessica Kurzman and Tierney Kennedy,

Tierney Kennedy is an accomplished mathematics educator and the founder of Back to Front Maths, a platform dedicated to enhancing mathematics teaching and learning. With a deep passion for mathematics education, Tierney has made significant contributions to the field through her innovative approach to teaching and her commitment to professional development.

Tierney’s work focuses on providing educators with practical resources and strategies to improve their teaching practices and foster a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts among students. Her platform, Back to Front Maths, offers a range of resources including teaching tools, professional development opportunities, and insightful articles that address key issues in mathematics education.

A key area of Tierney’s expertise is addressing and correcting mathematical misconceptions. She is renowned for her work in identifying common misunderstandings students have about mathematical concepts and developing effective strategies to overcome these challenges. Her research and practical applications have yielded notable results, with data showing significant improvements in student comprehension and performance when her methods are implemented in the classroom.

Tierney’s work is characterized by her dedication to supporting educators and her innovative approach to tackling the challenges of teaching mathematics. Her data-driven insights and proven results continue to inspire and empower teachers, helping them enhance their instructional practices and positively impact student learning.

Jessica Kurzmann is the Mathematics Leader and Learning and Teaching Leader at St. Patrick's Primary School in Kilmore. With over 20 years of teaching experience, including more than 15 years in mathematics leadership, she is dedicated to improving classroom practice and fostering a culture of deep mathematical thinking and learning. Holding a Master of Education in Mathematics Leadership from Monash University, Jessica is passionate about driving whole-school change and empowering educators to elevate student learning.

Beyond her work at St. Patrick’s, Jessica is a Director for the Mathematical Association of Victoria (MAV) and an experienced consultant. She works closely with schools to implement research- informed best practices, supporting educators in strengthening their mathematics instruction. Jessica provides tailored support to teachers in a variety of ways, adapting to the unique needs of each school to ensure meaningful and sustainable improvements in mathematics education. Jessica regularly presents at major mathematics education conferences, including The Mathematical Association of Western Australia (MAWA) Conference, The Mathematical Association of Victoria (MAV) Conference, and The Melbourne Mathematics Conference, sharing innovative strategies for spotlighting student thinking, deepening conceptual understanding and embedding explicit teaching within rich mathematical tasks.