About AATM

 Suzi Mast is a proud Arizona certified teacher and administrator for over 30 years.  Suzi recently retired (for a hot second) from the Arizona Department of Education where she was the Director of K-12 Mathematics and Educational Technology for over nine years. Suzi has also been a middle school and high school teacher in Arizona, worked in the private sector in educational technology, and an administrator for a K-8 district leading math and science curriculum, instruction and assessment.  Suzi specialists in Formative Assessment, MTSS and social and emotional learning in math with a focus on equity for all students.  Suzi is also on the Board for AATM.  Suzi is currently consulting and presenting in Arizona and on the national level. 

Currently working as a math education specialist for Pinal County Education Services where I work with all 19 public school districts and several charter schools to support effective math instruction. I formerly taught middle school and high school mathematics. 

- In September, I assumed the role of President on the AATM Board. I am humbled by the opportunity to work with such an amazing and dedicated group of professionals who are all passionate about supporting math teachers across Arizona. I am amazed at what our small organization has been able to accomplish and look forward to continuing to learn how we can best reach teachers in every part of the start to work with them to improve the classroom experience of students' formerly served as the NCTM Representative.

 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. 

 Rob Hilliker is a Math Program Specialist for the Arizona Department of Education in Exceptional Student Services. Rob served eleven years as a math educator and four years in leadership positions as a math coach, new teacher induction coach, technology integration coach, and district math specialist. He has provided mathematics professional learning to special and general education teachers at a site and district level as well as through the University of Arizona’s Center for Recruitment and Retention Mathematics Teacher Workshops. He also has five years of co-teaching experience and has provided professional learning to teachers so that students with disabilities could effectively engage in grade-level standards. 

Leigh has served on the AATM Board as the Membership Chair since October 2020. She has been in the education field for over 18 years and has a wide range of experiences in K-8 education. As an Army spouse, she has taught in schools across the country, including a variety of districts in Arizona. Since 2019, she has been working with the Center for the Recruitment and Retention of Mathematics Teachers at the University of Arizona as a Teacher Leader, facilitating math content development workshops.  

I’m Nicole Paul, an educator in the Madison Elementary School District with a passion for mathematics. I began my teaching career in 2010 as a 4th-grade teacher, where I quickly discovered my love for math education. After five years, I collaborated with a co-worker to departmentalize instruction, allowing me to focus solely on teaching math. This experience deepened my enthusiasm for the subject and helped me develop innovative strategies to support students in mastering complex concepts.After nine years in elementary school, I transitioned to teaching 7th-grade math at the middle school level, which challenged me to adapt to new standards and classroom management techniques. This role broadened my understanding of math education across grade levels and allowed me to support older students effectively.

Now, in my fourth year as a district math instructional coach, I work closely with teachers and administrators, providing professional development and sharing best practices in math instruction. As a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, I stay connected with a network of educators and continually access resources to bring the latest research and strategies to our district. My goal is to enhance our collective ability to meet the diverse needs of all our students across the state.

 Chryste Berda serves on the AATM Board as the Regional Vice President for Maricopa. 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. 

Carrie Burdon presently holds the position of Program Manager of Professional Development at the Tucson Unified School District in Tucson, AZ. With over 16 years of teaching experience, she brings a wealth of expertise to her current role. Simultaneously, she collaborates with the Center for the Recruitment and Retention of Mathematics Teachers at the University of Arizona, actively contributing to teacher leadership development and facilitating content development workshops. 

Carrie is a proud alumna of the University of Arizona, where she earned her Bachelor's degree, and she holds a Master's in Teaching Mathematics from Mount Holyoke College. Her unwavering belief that all individuals can excel in mathematics serves as a guiding principle in her educational endeavors. Furthermore, she took on the role of AATM VP of Southern AZ in 2019, demonstrating her commitment to advancing mathematics education and fostering professional development within her community. 

My love for math education began as a tutor in college 27 years ago. I went on to teach at the middle school and high school level for 14 years. I stretched my knowledge of the mathematics learning progression to include kindergarten through AP Calculus for 6 years. My most recent adventure is supporting 6 - 12th grade science and mathematics teachers. I love learning and challenging myself and others. My belief is that although we can't make anyone learn, it is our responsibility to provide every opportunity and support possible, partnered with the belief that every student can find success. My goal as the East Central VP is to provide learning and resources to help teachers be the best they can be for our students. 

 Anna A. Fermanis serves on the AATM Board as the Regional Vice President for the Western Counties. She has worked in education for more than 20 years.  She is currently the Instructional Services Director for Somerton School District, K-8 district in Somerton, Arizona, in charge of the development and implementation of mathematics and language arts curriculum and instruction.  Anna coordinates and instructs professional development activities for teachers and administrators on understanding and implementing Arizona’s standards.  She also develops benchmark assessments and oversees the district’s instructional calendar for both math and language arts.  Additionally, she is active in numerous curriculum and professional development organizations and serves as a member on different boards throughout the state. 

 Christina is a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Northern Arizona University.  She joined the board in 2019. 

 As a highly-decorated professional developer, curriculum director, math coach/specialist and classroom teacher, Kim brings over 3 decades of experience to the K-12 education field. Throughout the years, her passion for great mathematics teaching and learning has been evidenced in over 100 of Arizona’s urban and rural school districts as well as in her role as Chief Learning Officer of KP Mathematics. 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. 

 Alysha Madanat is a life-long learner! Alysha has worked in education for the last 19 years, primarily being a middle school math teacher, with most of the time in 6th grade. Alysha was a district intervention math coach for three years after finishing her doctorate with a focus on data driven instruction & student feedback. Alysha is now a clinical assistant professor at Arizona State University. Alysha is teaching juniors and seniors who are paraeducators right now in the field and teaching within the ASU Teaching Fellows Program. Alysha has presented at multiple national conferences and state conferences over the last three years. Alysha has a passion for math small groups, supporting teachings and data collection within a classroom setting.  

Marisa Tualla is a K12 Math Specialist for the Arizona Department of Education. She has been working in math education for 15 years.  Previously worked as a Math Instructional Specialist for the Washington Elementary School District.  She has ten years of teaching experience in elementary, middle school, and high school mathematics in Arizona and overseas with the International Baccalaureate program.  Marisa serves on the board of Arizona Math Leaders and Arizona Association of Teachers of Mathematics. Marisa is passionate about math education and the belief that all students are mathematicians.

 Lavon Sierra currently serves as the English Language Development Specialist, for students in 1st-6th grade, at Gary A. Knox Elementary School, in Yuma, AZ. Prior to this, she has spent the past 10 years teaching at the elementary level in kindergarten, 2nd and 4th grade. Throughout her years of teaching, she has served on the Crane School District math leadership team, where she worked on developing the district’s math curriculum. She serves on the Magic Squad for the Get Your Teach On Conference, as they travel around the U.S. providing professional development, aka an educational experience, for K-8 educators and administrators. She is extremely passionate about providing memorable experiences through engaging and rigorous learning opportunities, and enjoys providing professional development to support other educators to do the same. 

 Tara Fulton currently serves as the K-8 Mathematics Coordinator for Crane School District in Yuma, AZ.  She has spent over 15 years as an educator having taught at both the elementary and middle school levels.  With her deep passion for mathematics education, she currently works to provide professional development and support to district leadership and teachers across the state.  She has served on state standard and assessment committees and was the project director for multiple federally funded MSP grants.  She is the current board secretary for Arizona Mathematics Leaders and serves as a program committee member for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Centennial Annual Conference.  She cares deeply about the learning and teaching of mathematics and has been able to proudly serve as a representative for math educators across the state. 

 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 the President of the Arizona Mathematics Leaders, an NCSM affiliate. She is the AML representative on the AATM board. 

Christel is an instructional coach with over two decades of experience in education, teaching secondary mathematics. She is excited to join the team as the STEM representative, bringing a wealth of knowledge and dedication to this role.

Christel holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Natural Science from Arizona State University, and her commitment to lifelong learning is evident in her recent achievements as an ISTE Certified Educator and a Next Generation Science Facilitator.

For the past decade, Christel has facilitated professional development for educators, including workshops with the American Modeling Teachers Association on STEM integration. Most recently, she co-created and co-led a workshop series on Modeling for the Middle School Mathematics classroom, and collaborated with the Department of Education to share resources for their Connections for Success initiative. Her professional development sessions emphasize practical strategies for integrating STEM across subjects, enhancing instructional practices, and fostering deeper student engagement.

Christel is passionate about making STEM accessible and engaging for students and teachers across Arizona. She looks forward to inspiring a love for discovery and innovation in classrooms statewide, empowering educators to shape the next generation of problem solvers and critical thinkers.