My Story

After 11 years of teaching elementary school, I realized math was a major source of frustration for both my students and their families. I became skilled at teaching algorithms and tricks that helped students score well on tests, and I earned a reputation as a strong math teacher. However, I always felt that something was missing. Math shouldn’t just be about memorizing steps—it needed to make sense.

At the same time I became a mom, I had the opportunity to transition into a math specialist role. Confident in my teaching abilities, I quickly realized that effective math instruction was about more than just procedures. To truly support students, teachers, and families, I needed to deepen my understanding of math and how to make it accessible and meaningful. I immersed myself in learning so I could share better ideas and strategies with the teachers at my school.

I discovered that teaching math isn’t just about giving strategies; it’s about helping others understand the why behind those strategies and empowering them with the confidence to teach math effectively. That realization inspired me to offer the same support to teachers and parents: clarity and confidence in math.

On a personal note, my son was born prematurely and faced developmental delays, including a significant expressive language delay. Despite his challenges, he developed a love for math. I nurtured his curiosity, and over time, he thrived—growing into a happy, healthy child who now excels in school.

That’s why I created Count on Kelsie—to share strategies and foundational math knowledge that can make a real difference for teachers and families. Whether you’re in the classroom or helping your child at home, I’m here to provide practical tools, insights, and ideas to help make math less intimidating.

When I’m not sharing ideas and resources with you, I’m at home with my family, always looking for new ways to make math fun and accessible. I’m excited to help you on this math journey, and I can’t wait to see you and your students thrive!