Michael Cassaro
Posture Educational Consultants
Who is Michael?
Michael is the co-founder and principal consultant at Posture Educational Consultants, a consulting firm that supports remote and in-person mathematics teaching and learning, coaching and school leadership with an emphasis on equity and social justice. His consulting work has been regarded as transformative, grounded in strong relationships and direct communication, and always responsive to the needs of individuals, groups, schools, districts and other organizations.
Michael’s over-twenty years of experience in education took root as a teacher in the Bronx and Harlem, where he was recognized early on by his colleagues and administrators as a leader with strong beliefs and a pragmatic spirit. As a teacher, Michael planned and facilitated workshops and established learning communities that enabled teachers to make their practice public, reflect on teaching and learning, give and receive feedback, and iterate the cycle of learning.He continued his studies at the Bank Street College of Education Math Leadership Program (MLP) and began was coached by Toni Cameron at Mathematics in the City (MitC), a national center for professional development housed at the City College of the City University New York. This transformative time in Michael’s career propelled him into the role of school-based math coach, a role in which he coached teachers across grades K-5 and provided learning experiences to help parents and caregivers support their children’s mathematical development.
He continued to work with Toni Cameron and Metamorphosis Teaching Learning Communities (MTLC), and eventually served as a host site for the META Coach Collaborative and Teaching-Learning Communities.
In 2014 Michael was selected to join the team of professional staff developers working with MTLC, the nationally renowned coaching organization co-directed by Toni Cameron and Lucy West, where he collaborated with his colleagues and his partner schools to provide on-site teacher coaching, teacher and principal learning communities, an innovative “coaching the coach” model, curricular planning support, and leadership coaching for teachers and administrators. As he continued to hone his coaching and leadership ability, Michael began to take on leadership roles in the MTLC community and coached other META consultants on-site and as they facilitated workshops. Recently, Michael and MTLC successfully partnered with District 9 in the Bronx to support teacher-leadership and math coaches in 10 schools across the district.
In addition to his work as a consultant in schools, Michael has served as an adjunct instructor and advisor to graduate students in the Math Leadership Program at Bank Street College, has consulted and curated content for online learning platforms, has provided customized coaching support for a major curriculum developer, and was elected to his local school board where he heads the policy committee and serves on the audit committee.
Michael’s primary areas of interest include: (1) exploring and nurturing students’ and teachers’ problem-solving strategies and dispositions; (2) using routines to develop students’ and teachers’ mathematical reasoning and communication; (3) supporting parents and caregivers to recognize and develop children’s mathematical reasoning across the day; and (4) exploring groups, systems and organizations through the lens of fractals and organizational development, accounting for a broad range of stakeholders and interests. A central focus of Michael’s work is fostering equity and efficacy among students, teachers and parents by deconstructing traditional notions about what it means to be good at math.
When not reading or doing math, Michael can be found with his friends and family – telling stories, listening to eclectic music, cooking, breaking bread, and attempting to keep a large biodynamic garden.
He continued to work with Toni Cameron and Metamorphosis Teaching Learning Communities (MTLC), and eventually served as a host site for the META Coach Collaborative and Teaching-Learning Communities.
In 2014 Michael was selected to join the team of professional staff developers working with MTLC, the nationally renowned coaching organization co-directed by Toni Cameron and Lucy West, where he collaborated with his colleagues and his partner schools to provide on-site teacher coaching, teacher and principal learning communities, an innovative “coaching the coach” model, curricular planning support, and leadership coaching for teachers and administrators. As he continued to hone his coaching and leadership ability, Michael began to take on leadership roles in the MTLC community and coached other META consultants on-site and as they facilitated workshops. Recently, Michael and MTLC successfully partnered with District 9 in the Bronx to support teacher-leadership and math coaches in 10 schools across the district.
In addition to his work as a consultant in schools, Michael has served as an adjunct instructor and advisor to graduate students in the Math Leadership Program at Bank Street College, has consulted and curated content for online learning platforms, has provided customized coaching support for a major curriculum developer, and was elected to his local school board where he heads the policy committee and serves on the audit committee.
Michael’s primary areas of interest include: (1) exploring and nurturing students’ and teachers’ problem-solving strategies and dispositions; (2) using routines to develop students’ and teachers’ mathematical reasoning and communication; (3) supporting parents and caregivers to recognize and develop children’s mathematical reasoning across the day; and (4) exploring groups, systems and organizations through the lens of fractals and organizational development, accounting for a broad range of stakeholders and interests. A central focus of Michael’s work is fostering equity and efficacy among students, teachers and parents by deconstructing traditional notions about what it means to be good at math.
When not reading or doing math, Michael can be found with his friends and family – telling stories, listening to eclectic music, cooking, breaking bread, and attempting to keep a large biodynamic garden.
