People

Dr. Cavalcante is the director of The Mathematizen Lab. He is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

Prof. Cavalcante's research focuses on numeracy education, citizenship, and financial education. His research program seeks to understand how numeracy education can respond to the demands of a society in transition.

Prof. Cavalcante teaches courses in curriculum and teaching mathematics, as well as integrating science, mathematics and technology curricula.

Deborah is a second-year doctoral student in Curriculum and Pedagogy specializing in math education. She holds a Mathematics and Statistics degree from the University of Toronto and a Master’s in Child Study and Education from OISE. With five years of mathematics teaching experience, her interests focus on financial literacy and applications of artificial intelligence in educational settings. Her research backgroun includes creating and leading a culturally responsive math programs for Syrian refugees, developing a Mathematics Vocabulary Measure, and created a TDSB after-school math program for ESL students.

Rosalia is an Ontario certified teacher pursuing doctoral studies in Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning (CTL) at OISE. With a rich background in teaching, both internationally and in Toronto, her research focuses on multilingual students in math education. She examines the factors influencing their mathematical learning and explores the effects of leveraging students' full linguistic repertoires on their math performance. Rosalia has participated in several research projects, including STEM education for newcomer students, financial literacy, and the home literacy environment.

Jin A Jung is a Ph.D. student in Curriculum and Pedagogy at OISE, University of Toronto. Her research focuses on decolonizing financial literacy education for marginalized communities. She has investigated math teachers’ perceptions of financial literacy and explored the financial experiences of Black immigrant youth and teacher candidates. Jin A has presented at MES, AERA, and NNN and will present at OAME and CSSE in 2025. She advocates for equitable financial literacy as a fundamental right.

Andrew is a first-year Master of Arts student. His research interest is how active learning might impact students’ financial numeracy development. He is interested in formulating novel methods in teaching financial literacy. Besides being a full-time student at OISE, he is also an Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT). He is certified to teach from grade 4 – 12 and he is completing his K - 3 qualification. He is looking forward to transforming math learning from teacher-centered to student-centered.

Paul is a graduate of the Master of Education program in Curriculum and Pedagogy from OISE. He currently runs extracurricular education programs for kids under broad topics of technology and design. Paul is interested in providing holistic, cross-disciplinary educational experiences that bring citizenship and social responsibility into STEM-acronym disciplines. This approach is reflected in his push for accessibility and inclusion, providing various workshop opportunities for underrepresented communities in collaboration with community leaders.

Lauren is a Master of Arts student in Curriculum and Pedagogy at OISE, University of Toronto. Her research focuses on mathematical anxiety, students' experiences in math classes, and mathematics curriculum. As an elementary and middle school teacher before her time at OISE, Lauren has advocated for student agency in classrooms, innovative teaching practices, and transforming mathematics education. As she nears the end of her time at OISE, she dedicates her non-academic time to work in TDSB model schools.

Sonya Ho is currently a Master of Arts student and will soon commence her PhD in Curriculum and Pedagogy at OISE. She is a teacher at YRDSB and a Research Assistant at Eureka! Research Institute at UTS. Sonya has experience teaching Kindergarten to Grade 8 in both public and private sectors and has contributed to higher education initiatives at UTSC, Tyndale University, and OISE. Her research focuses on Mathematics Education, SoTL, and Teacher Education.

Sisi is a PhD candidate in Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning (CTL) at OISE and a full-time science and math teacher in the Halton District School Board. Her research explores the intersection of mathematical literacy and formal mathematics to bridge gaps in curriculum and reshape how math is taught. Beyond academics, she coaches badminton, promotes financial literacy, and engages in the Thinking Classrooms movement to foster critical thinking and problem-solving in education.

Tongyu Zhang is currently a student who is pursuing a Master of Teaching degree at OISE/UT. During his Bachelor’s degree, he majored in mathematics, minored in education and society, as well as visual studies. Tongyu completed his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Toronto with High Distinction. While completing his Master of Teaching program, Tongyu continues to pursue his interest in discovering more about the topic of integrating art and mathematics.

Asia is a PhD Candidate in Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning at OISE and a part-time mathematics instructor at Seneca Polytechnic College. She is particularly interested in critical mathematics education. Her research focuses on preparing post-secondary students to manage their finances in both personal and professional settings, equipping them to be responsible citizens. With a background in Operator Algebra, Asia is transitioning from abstract mathematics to a focus on mathematics pedagogy. Passionate about community engagement, she enjoys conducting mathematical activities, meeting new people, and exploring new places.

Ezra is an undergraduate mathematics and statistics student at the University of Toronto. His research interests focus on making mathematics education less intimidating and more enjoyable for learners. He is also interested in how interactive learning approaches can support the development of financial literacy skills.

Ye is currently a Phd candidate in the Langugage and Literacy Program at OISE. Her research interest is in multilingualism, financial literacy, and generative AI. Her current research is focusing on how to support students with Chinese backgrounds in their mathematics learning.