Let Laughter and Learning Collide

Sean Nank, PhD, received the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Sean was a Distinguished Teacher in Residence and is an adjunct professor at California State University San Marcos, a full professor at American College of Education, and works for Oceanside Unified School District.  He has published multiple books, articles, and K-12 math curricula.  He has worked in various positions with the United States Department of Education, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, National Science Foundation, California Department of Education, California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, San Diego County Office of Education, and Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.

Sean currently serves on the Executive Board at the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM) as the Regional Director (Western 2) and was the Editor of their Journal of Mathematics Education Leadership (JMEL). Sean was appointed as the NCTM MARC representative for the Western 2 region in 2019. He was also appointed to represent the USA at the International Congress on Mathematical Education in Korea as the mathematics assessment expert, which culminated in a congressional address as to the current state of mathematics education.

Sean is currently a Solution Tree Associate. Sean worked at Amplify as a math content designer to digitize the 5 Practices, as the Mathematics Professional Development Specialist, and as the Professional Development Design Specialist.  Sean was a Facilitator for Illustrative Mathematics and LearnZillion and a curriculum writer as well as a math coach.

Sean completed two terms as President of the Greater San Diego Mathematics Council (2017-2021), is the current past president, and continues to consult for various districts across the country.  Sean is the head of two grants designed to transform K-16 pedagogical strategies and part of two other grants to accomplish the same goal.  Sean is also a special consultant for a MSTI endeavor, creating curricula and support for in-service educators to expand their expertise via summer academies.   

Sean’s current research includes creating equitable space for ALL student voices while integrating students’ passions into K-12 classrooms via technology, curricula, and Instructional Routines while creating a balance between procedural, conceptual and application as well as creating partnerships to facilitate shifts in pedagogical strategies for math content and methods courses at the university level. 

Sean was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois.  Sean enjoys his relatively new dance hobby, including ballet, hip hop, and tap.  His inspiration for the new found passion is a direct result of his teenage daughter’s competitive dance career.  They have danced on stage together every spring and look forward to continuing the tradition.  Sean performed as a company dancer in his first ever professional ballet production in December 2019.