exSTEMsions

exSTEMsions was created by two math teachers, who also happen to be parents when we noticed how difficult it can be, as a teacher and as a parent, to find ways to help kids who are interested in math STAY interested in math through middle school, and beyond. Between us, we are teachers who have taught middle school and elementary school math, collegiate math, and have coached math teachers at both the middle and elementary school levels. exSTEMsions provides fun, fascinating problems accompanied by friendly, easy to understand solutions, supporting questions, extension problems, big ideas and more. We believe that we are ALL mathematicians – some of us just don’t know it yet. That’s why we offer enrichment opportunities for all learners to feed their inner math geek.

Our approach to math is rooted in the belief that everyone can be good at mathematics. We believe in the enormous value of an inquiry-based approach to teaching, where the teacher/parent serves as facilitator and guide -allowing students to explore, to test, and to struggle - providing instruction, direction and support as needed. Our problems are also grounded in the idea that math, problem-solving and critical thinking are vital skills that inform all other areas of learning and life. Our goal is always to help children build their problem-solving 'tool kits,' practice thinking critically, and gain confidence in their abilities through problem-based math.

Sara received her B.A. in Education and Sociology from Saint Peter's College (now University) followed by my M.A. in Education with a concentration in Mathematics and Science from Seton Hall University. She completed additional coursework in mathematics at Kean University, and additional graduate coursework at Mount Holyoke College and Marygrove University.Currently, Sara is focused on creating effective instruction for children through a variety of delivery methods (online, face-to-face, etc.), by attending professional conferences, workshops and other continuing education opportunities.

Sara Torpey is the CEO and co-founder of exSTEMsions. Sara has been a teacher for as long as she can remember - she taught swimming, baking, writing, French braiding and lots more, all before leaving high school. Her formal teaching career began as a middle school math teacher. From that role she went on to become a math coach, working with middle and elementary school teachers to improve their content knowledge and instructional skills. She has also taught various kinds of mathematics to college students. No matter the role, Sara’s first love has always been teaching. Sara sees exSTEMsions as an awesome way to teach in two ways: teaching learners through awesome problems AND helping parents learn to love doing math their kids, even if teaching math isn’t their passion. Sara lives with her fabulous husband, two silly children, one happy dog, fish (really, what can you say about the fish?) and one cranky cat in Bucks County, PA. Elizabeth Sieminski is the CCO (chief content officer) and co-founder of exSTEMsions. She has two Master's degrees: one in mathematics, and the other in math education, curriculum and instruction. Elizabeth has been a philosopher, artist, architectural designer, and mathematics and mathematics education professor in her winding professional journey. Elizabeth hasn’t been able to choose sides - doer or teacher - and she’s glad not to. She has never believed that a student can only be good in one category - arts or sciences - and has worked on developing all sides of the brain - be it her own, her son’s, or her students’. Elizabeth sees exSTEMsions as a natural extension of her math education brain, her artistic brain, and her love for international math-problem-joy. She lives in Union County, NJ with her mathematician husband, and worries about her son who will graduate from college before being able to legally toast his own success (and she hopes that her son has forgotten some of those crazy math education experiments from his early childhood…). She is also close friends with two colonies of microorganisms: her New Jersey kitchen sourdough and homemade yogurt culture.