Susanna Brock, Ed.D.
Susanna Brock is an expert in applying scientific research to develop educational practices that advance mathematics learning in the K-12 classroom. Having spent more than 15 years teaching math at every level from early elementary school through precalculus, she brings a wealth of practical experience to her research informed recommendations and coaching. She is an advocate for the “science of teaching math,” which distills well-established research on how students learn math into usable recommendations. The power of Susanna’s work comes in combining her vast knowledge of cognitive science research and her awareness of what it really takes to make positive change in schools.
Training & Expertise
While teaching math, Susanna simultaneously earned her M.S. in Neuroscience and Education from Columbia Teachers College and subsequently her Ed.D. in 21st Century Education from Johns Hopkins School of Education. She conducted original research in her middle-school math classroom and published her research on closing the gender gap in math achievement.
The "Science of Math"
The “science of math” draws on the past several decades of research in psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience that provide evidence of how students learn math and what teaching practices are most effective. It is a corollary to the “science of reading” movement that has recently been in the news. The science of math, and Susanna’s recommendations, draws exclusively on research that has been reviewed by the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC), a division of the Institute of Education Sciences.
Philosophy
My approach to advising schools is grounded in the following principles:
Profound Respect
A profound respect for teachers and the belief that teaching is an inherently challenging and complex task
Commitment to Listening
A commitment to listening; as an outsider to a school community, it is necessary to listen and learn about the school before making any recommendations
Integrating New Ideas
The belief that new ideas and approaches take time to be adopted and integrated into practice in a way that is effective and sustainable
Love of Children
A sincere love of children and the learning process; the belief that children enter school with curiosity about numbers and mathematics and we must build upon this inherent interest
Belief in High-Level Math
The belief that all children can and should learn high-level mathematics that will help them to understand and navigate their world more effectively
Past Experience
