Meet Mrs. Brigham

FAMILY

I grew up and was raised in Worcester, MA.  My husband and I have lived in Upton for over 20 years now.  I am mom to two children.  My son, Owen, is 19 and is a sophomore studying political science at UMass Amherst and my daughter, Caroline, is 18 and a senior at Nipmuc High School in Upton.  Our children have kept us very busy traveling to cross country and track meets, field hockey games, and dance recitals.  We love skiing as a family and enjoy doing so as often as we can.  We spend our summers in our tiny cottage on the Cape in Eastham.  Recreationally, I love reading, walking, skiing, paddle boarding, gardening, cooking and doing math!

EDUCATION

I was graduated from Regis College in 1994.  I majored in English and had a concentration in Elementary Education.  I was certified to teach grades 1-6 upon graduation.  I finished a Masters Degree in Elementary Education with a specialization in Instructional Technology in 1998.  When I started my career, curriculum resources for teaching mathematics were scarce and the World Wide Web wasn't a thing yet.  Back then, we were designing our own lessons.  I turned to the work of Marilyn Burns for inspiration.  Her work transformed my own math learning and consequently, my teaching.  A problem-solving, hands on approach to teaching math allowed me to engage all students and make learning math at a high level a goal that was accessible to all students.  Over the course of my career I've continued to develop my craft through course work, professional development, and self-directed learning alongside many hard working and talented colleagues. I  am certified to teach elementary math (specialist).  

TEACHING

I love teaching and cannot imagine doing anything else.  I've always wanted to be a teacher (except for that one year when carpenter pants were all the rage and I wanted to be a carpenter).  I began my teaching career in 1994 in a parochial school in Somerville, MA.  I taught 2nd grade.  In 1995, I secured a teaching position in the Mendon-Upton Regional School District at Miscoe Hill Middle School teaching the fifth grade.  I taught fifth grade for nine years.  I worked as a math specialist for a year before moving to Clough Elementary in Mendon to teach second grade.  After five years teaching second grade I moved to third grade where I taught for four years.  I  finally moved to fourth grade about eight years ago.  As my children moved through the MURSD, I was committed to NOT teaching in their school.  I always felt like they deserved at least 6 hours away from their mom like most kids enjoyed. I LOVE change and have consistently sought out opportunities to work with people who inspire me. With my students out of Memorial Elementary, it seemed the perfect time to join some of my most esteemed colleagues and teach at the elementary school in my own town.

COACHING

I am so happy to be launching my 29th year in the classroom, albeit in a different role, in the Wayland Public Schools as an elementary math coach at Claypit Hill Elementary School. Mathematics teaching and learning has long been my passion.  I'm thrilled to be returning to my role as coach.  Spending each and everyday working alongside talented teachers, leading children in deep math learning, is truly a dreamy job.  I can't wait to begin!