Sarah Ryan

Sarah is a part-time Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Delaware where she teaches HDFS 412: Early Childhood Inclusive Math Curriculum and Assessment.  Sarah is a former elementary school teacher, who has spent over twenty years working as a professional developer with PreK-8 teachers to develop teachers’ mathematical content knowledge, understanding of children’s mathematical thinking, and strategies for teaching math in ways that are equitable, that elicit, respond to, and develop children’s mathematical ideas, and that foster children’s identities as sense-makers. Sarah’s research interests include 1) how parent-child interactions foster children’s mathematical development, 2) how to support families in developing positive and playful interactions around math that respond to and build on children’s interests and infuse mathematics into everyday life, and 3) how to prepare early childhood pre-service and in-service teachers to support young children’s mathematical development in ways that are developmentally appropriate and equitable.  Sarah’s current research focuses designing and evaluating interventions to foster family math engagement.

Professional Experiences

• Adjunct Professor, University of Delaware, 2019 – present
• Mathematics Professional Developer, Sarah Ryan Education Consulting, LLC, 2014-present
• Mathematics Professional Developer, Math and Science Education Resource Center, University of Delaware, 2008-2013
• Advisor, Leadership in Mathematics Education Program, Bank Street College of Education, 2006-2008
• Math Coach, New York City Public Schools, New York, NY, 1999-2005
• Elementary School Teacher, PS 234, New York, NY, 1995-1998

Publications

• Ernst, K & Ryan, S., (2014) Success from the start: Your first years teaching elementary school mathematics, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Recent Presentations

• Ryan, S. (May, 2023). Anytime, anywhere math: Engaging young children and families with math in nature. In Bloom Conference, Newark, DE.
• Ryan, S. (October, 2023). Anytime, anywhere math: Engaging young children & families in math every day. National Family Engagement Summit, Kansas City, MO (virtual presentation).
• Ryan, S. & Werner, S. (April, 2016). The power of representations: Coaching new teachers to focus on mathematical concepts and relationships. National Council for Supervisors of Mathematics Annual Conference, Oakland, CA.
• Ryan, S. (October, 2015). Supporting Young Children in Solving Story Problems. National Council for Teachers of Mathematics Regional Conference, Atlantic City, NJ.

Professional Memberships

• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
• National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics
• Delaware Council of Mathematics Leaders
• Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
• National Association for the Education of Young Children

Past Education

• M.S. Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Bank Street College of Education, 1996
• B.A. English, Williams College, 1989