Prior to joining Notre Dame, Derek has had long experience with education in a number of schools and in a number of roles. He has also had experience working with students who are Gifted and Talented as coordinator of a Primary Extension and Academic Challenge Centre (PEAC) and as a Numeracy Consultant for the Association of Independent Schools of WA (AISWA), as well as working with students for whom English is a Foreign Language (EFL).

His passion is in engaging students in the subject of mathematics and supporting the excellent work that teachers are doing in schools. To these ends he is involved in the delivery of professional learning in schools and is a regular invited presenter at both state and national conferences.

He is published in the field of Mathematics Education and received his PhD for his thesis entitled “Effectiveness of Teacher Professional Learning: Enhancing the Teaching of Fractions in Primary Schools.” His research interests are in the area of rational numbers, algebraic reasoning and what constitutes mathematical knowledge for teaching.

Professional Affiliations:

Member of:

Mathematics Association of Western Australia (MAWA)

Mathematics Education Research Group (MERG)

Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers (AAMT)

Reviewer of scholarly articles for:

Mathematics Educational Research Journal (MERJ)

Mathematics Association of Victoria (MAV)

International Journal of Whole Schooling (IJWS)

Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom (APMC)

On the editorial boards of:

Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom (APMC)

International Journal of Whole Schooling (IJWS)

Member of the conference committee for:

Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE)