Board of Directors

Laurel Cherry | President

Laurel Cherry has been working in math education for 23 years. She has served in a variety of roles as a teacher, department chair, She is currently a K-12 Math Specialist with the Arizona Department of Education. She spent 15 years as a high school math teacher in Arizona and Southern California. Laurel earned her Bachelor's degree from Chapman University and her Master of Arts in Education from National University. She has developed and presented professional development at NCTM nationally and regionally, AATM, CMC-South, as well as schools and districts all over the country. Laurel is passionate about working with teachers to share best practices for the math classroom to maximize student success and learning.

Dr. Amy McCarthy | President Elect

Amy McCarthy is an educational leader with 25 years of experience across junior high and high school settings. Amy holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematics from The Pennsylvania State University, a Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Northern Arizona University, and a Doctor of Education from Northern Arizona University. She has held various roles throughout her career, including serving as a junior high and high school mathematics teacher as well as a district secondary math coach. Currently, she serves as an Assistant Principal overseeing curriculum at Dr. Camille Casteel High School in the Chandler Unified School District. Amy also serves as the Treasurer for the Arizona Association of Teachers of Mathematics (AATM). She is passionate about ensuring mathematics leaders are fully equipped to drive systemic change in mathematics education. 

Amber Strang | Secretary

Amber Strang has been an educator in the Paradise Valley Unified School District since 2000, teaching high school mathematics and serving as a department chair. She currently supports middle and high school teachers as the district’s Secondary Math Curriculum Specialist. Amber holds a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Mathematics and a master’s degree in Educational Technology from Arizona State University, as well as a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. Being a native of Arizona, she is enthusiastic about contributing to the AML board and actively engaging in initiatives for positive change.

Kimberly May | Southern Region VP

Kimberly May, NBCT is a distinguished educator with almost three decades of experience in this noble career. With her lifelong mission of teaching and learning, coaching and mentoring, she recently led mathematics instruction as a K-8 Math Curriculum Specialist from 2022-2024. She currently serves as the Principal of Magma Ranch Elementary School with Florence Unified School District. 

Her core values of authenticity, growth and excellence can be visibly seen and experienced locally, statewide, and nationwide as she engages with others as a professional learner, presenter and inspirational speaker. No matter the years behind her, she looks at every year as a new opportunity to learn in community with others towards a better person and teacher leader. 

Throughout her career in Indiana and Arizona, she has served in many capacities as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and district administrator. She believes in the importance of equitable teaching and mathematical practices in order for every leader, teacher, scholar and family to believe they can be doers, thinkers and contributors in mathematics.

Wendy Stove | Central Region VP

Wendy Stove currently serves as the Pk–6 District Content Specialist for Math and ELA in the Higley Unified School District. Now in her 15th year as an educator, she has served in various roles across South Carolina and Arizona, including elementary teacher, site-based Math Coach and Interventionist, and District Math Instructional Coach. She earned her BSBA from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her Master of Arts in Education from the University of Phoenix. Her passion lies in reviving the joy in teaching and learning mathematics by empowering teachers with the tools to create dynamic, student-centered environments that support all students in learning mathematics at high levels.

Northern Region VP

Currently vaccant

Jeanette Scott | Treasurer

Jeanette Scott is a veteran educator with more than 25 years of experience spanning high school and community college classrooms. She currently serves as the CTE Academic Integration Specialist for Phoenix Union High School District, where she strengthens the connection between mathematics and career and technical education.

A committed leader in the mathematics education community, Jeanette serves as Treasurer for Arizona Mathematics Leaders and is an active member of AATM, TODOS, NCSM, NCTM and ACOVA. In 2013, she received the prestigious Esperanza Award from Chicanos Por La Causa in recognition of her dedication to inspiring students, contributing to her school community, and creating meaningful, lasting impact.

Rachel Leatham | Awards/Nominations Chair

Rachel Leatham is a National Board Certified high school mathematics teacher at Williams Field High School and a teacher leader with experience as a secondary instructional coach and math interventionist. She models effective instruction for colleagues and shares best practices through professional learning, conference presentations, and service on Arizona Department of Education committees. Rachel is passionate about collaboration, reflective practice, and helping teachers and students grow in their understanding of mathematics. 

Christel Bruno | Professional Development Co-Chair

Christel, an instructional coach with over two decades of experience teaching secondary mathematics, is excited to serve as co-chair for Professional Development. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Natural Science from Arizona State University and is an ISTE Certified Educator and Next Generation Science Facilitator.

For the past decade, Christel has led professional development, including workshops with the American Modeling Teachers Association on STEM integration. She recently co-created a workshop series on Modeling for Middle School Mathematics and collaborated with the Department of Education on the Connections for Success initiative. Her sessions focus on practical STEM integration, enhancing instruction, and deepening student engagement.

Passionate about making math more accessible for all, Christel looks forward to supporting Arizona educators to inspire the next generation of problem solvers and critical thinkers.

Kerri Zitar | Professional Development Co-Chair

Kerri Zitar has been an educator for 17 years, including 16 years as an elementary classroom teacher. She currently serves as an Academic Coach for the Chandler Unified School District, where she specializes in K-8 mathematics. Kerri holds both a Bachelor and Master of Arts in Education from Arizona State University, along with a K-8 Mathematics endorsement. A recipient of the AATM 2022 Cooper Apple Award, she has developed and presented professional development nationally through NCTM, as well as regionally with AATM and the CRR. Kerri strives to bridge the gap between research and practice, ensuring every classroom is a space where student agency and deep thinking thrive.

Ron Noval | NCSM Representative Sponsor Chair

Ron Noval is the Secondary Math Content Specialist for the largest school district in Arizona. With a diverse teaching background, he has worked internationally, from the Philippines to Dubai, and taught math across grades 4 through 12 and at the university level. Ron is completing a master's in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment, further strengthening his expertise in educational practices and data-driven decision-making.

Rozz Williams | Membership Chair

Rozz Williams has been working in mathematics education for over a decade. She is currently the K-8 Mathematics Coordinator for Yuma Elementary School District. After nine years as a middle school math teacher, she earned master's degrees in Curriculum and Instruction: Mathematics and Educational Leadership before transitioning into coaching and leadership roles. Rozz is committed to supporting teachers in effective math instruction and creating engaging learning opportunities for students. She is passionate about helping others develop a love for mathematics, believing that everyone is a math person. Through professional development, she collaborates with educators to enhance instruction and improve student success.

Marisa Tualla | Communications Chair

Marisa Tualla is a K12 Math Specialist for the Arizona Department of Education. Previously she worked as a Math Instructional Specialist for the Washington Elementary School District working with curriculum, assessment, data, professional development, and classroom coaching. She has ten years of teaching experience in elementary, middle school, and high school in Arizona and overseas with the International Baccalaureate program. Marisa earned her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from University of Arizona, and master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University. Marisa is passionate about math education and the belief that all students can learn.

Angela Marquez | Mathematics Outreach and Engagement Specialist

Yá'át'ééh! Shí éí Angela Marquez yíníshyé'. Táchii’nii nishłį́, Tł’ááshchí’í ’éí bá shíshchíín. Kinyaa’áanii ’éí dashicheii áádóó Tábąąhí ’éí dashinálí. Angela Marquez is Diné, Indigenous to Leupp, AZ on the Navajo Nation. Angela works at the University of Arizona Data Sciences Academy (DSA), serving Arizona K-14 educators in the emerging field of data science. Previous to this work, Angela has worked as a secondary math educator with a passion for equity and access to quality education that reflects and honors where the students come from. Although mathematics is not data science directly, mathematicians are uniquely positioned to learn how we, as a global and increasingly digital society, are using data to answer our questions. "What data stories do we care about?" and "What skills are needed to use data to answer our most pressing issues?" are a few questions we answer through our work with educators throughout the year. Empowering today's students in Mathematics allows for a natural connection to other STEM fields including data science and computer science as the fundamental building blocks to student-led exploratory education.

Aric Bilas | Webmaster

Aric Bilas currently serves as the Staff Development Specialist for Phoenix Union High School District. In his previous role, Aric served as a district Technology Integration Educator after teaching high school math for 12 years. As a staff development specialist, Aric works with all Certified staff to plan and facilitate quality professional development to improve instruction and increase student achievement.