Rate My Professor Averil Lee

Averil Lee is a Mathematics Facilitator within Education Support Services in the University of Otago's College of Education. She provides professional learning and development (PLD) and consultancy to schools, with a focus on mathematics education. Having served in this role for more than 14 years as of 2022, she works primarily in the Otago and Southland regions. As the South Island coordinator for the Accelerated Learning in Mathematics (ALiM) and Mathematics Support Teacher (MST) initiatives, Averil Lee assists teachers in accelerating the mathematical progress of students performing below or well below the National Standards. She delivers professional development across New Zealand, passionate about enabling students to develop strong number sense through the recognition of patterns and structures in common mathematics materials and tools.

Averil Lee presents workshops for Years 0-8 educators, such as 'The Importance of Pattern and Structure,' guiding participants in using tens frames, hundreds boards, rulers, and clocks to foster imaging skills essential for problem solving. She has supported key school initiatives, including the de-streaming of mathematics classes at St John's Girls' School in Invercargill, a change to mixed-ability grouping endorsed by principal Brenda Mackay at the time. Averil Lee has also authored 'Exploring 2D Shapes through Paper Folding,' published in Vinculum, offering practical paper-folding activities to teach geometric concepts in classrooms. Her facilitation work enhances teacher capabilities and contributes to improved mathematics outcomes for students in primary and intermediate settings throughout the South Island and beyond.