- Future Students
- Current Students
- Programs
- Programs of Study
- Undergraduate Studies
- Bachelor of General Studies
- Bachelor of Education as a Second Degree
- Minors
- Counselling and Human Development Minor
- Curriculum and Instruction Minor
- Early Learning Minor
- Educational Psychology Minor
- Learning and Developmental Disabilities Minor
- Social Justice in Education Minor
- Elementary Generalist Minor
- Environmental Education Minor
- French Education Minor
- Physical and Health Education Minor
- Secondary Mathematics Education Minor
- Secondary Teaching Minor
- Certificates
- Courses
- Teacher Education
- Professional Diplomas
- Graduate Studies
- Masters Programs
- MA, MEd in Arts Education
- MA, MEd in Counselling Psychology
- MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Children’s and Young Adult Literature
- MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Contemplative Inquiry & Approaches in Education
- MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Ecological Education
- MA, MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Educational Theory and Practice
- M.Éd. dans Curriculum & Instruction: Enseigner et apprendre en français: plurilinguismes, francophonies et éducation
- MA, MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Equity Studies in Education
- MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Imagination in Teaching, Schooling and Place
- MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Innovations in Mathematics Education
- MA, MEd dans Curriculum & Instruction: l'éducation en français en contextes de diversité (campus de ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV)
- MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Place- and Nature-Based Experiential Learning
- MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Post-Secondary (VCC)
- MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Science Education and Communication
- MEd in Educational Leadership: Post-Secondary (Surrey)
- MEd in Educational Leadership: Imaginative K-12 Leadership (Surrey)
- MEd in Educational Practice
- MEd in Educational Practice: Indigenous Pedagogy and Indigenous Inquiry
- MEd in Educational Practice: Practitioner Inquiry
- MA, MEd in Educational Psychology
- MEd in Teaching Languages in Global Contexts
- MA, MEd in Educational Technology & Learning Design
- MSc, MEd in Secondary Mathematics Education
- MA, MEd in Teaching English as an Additional Language
- Doctoral Programs
- EdD in Educational Leadership: Leading for Educational Change in the Yukon
- PhD in Arts Education
- PhD in Educational Psychology
- PhD in Educational Technology & Learning Design
- PhD in Educational Theory and Practice: Curriculum and Pedagogy Stream
- PhD in Educational Theory and Practice: Philosophy of Education Stream
- PhD in Languages, Cultures and Literacies
- PhD en langues, cultures et littératies (en français)
- PhD in Mathematics Education
- Areas of Study
- Program Comparision
- Masters Programs
- Programs in French
- Faculty & Research
- Indigeneity
- Community
- About
- News & Events
- Support Us
- Instructor & Staff Resources
- Work With Us
- Contact
Sandy Bakos
Mathematics Education PhD, 2023; C&I Numeracy MEd, 2014
"My experiences as a graduate student transformed my teaching, and wanting to learn more, I decided to pursue doctoral studies in mathematics education. "
I have spent the past 18 years teaching in elementary school classrooms. My original training was in special education and after beginning my career teaching kindergarten, I have since taught special education pre-school and grades 2-6. My experience includes Instructional Coaching and a teacher exchange year in Australia. My interest in mathematics education began after attending an 80-minute session given by Dr. Peter Liljedahl at a teachers' convention in northwestern Alberta. At the time, I remember thinking, "If I had learned math like this, my experience would have been entirely different." Wanting to provide my students the opportunity to engage with and experience mathematics in a way that would empower them as learners, I enrolled in ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV's Master of Education in Numeracy program when it was offered in the Alberta city in which I lived and worked. My experiences as a graduate student transformed my teaching, and wanting to learn more, I decided to pursue doctoral studies in mathematics education.
Please tell us how you first discovered your program.
I first heard about the program while completing my Master of Education in Numeracy.
Please tell us why you chose the Faculty of Education at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV for your studies.
A desire to continue to learn from the faculty members that started my journey into mathematics education were the main reason for choosing ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV.
Who is a faculty member you have enjoyed working with and why?
During my Master's degree, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Rina Zazkis, Dr. Peter Liljedahl, Dr. David Pimm and Dr. Nathalie Sinclair. Each provided different opportunities for me to grow as a student, as a teacher and as a researcher.
What inspires you to learn and to continue your education?
My experiences with mathematics in school were negative and resulted in a lot of anxiety. Wanting to learn more effective and positive ways for students to interact with and learn mathematics has inspired me to continue my education.