We were lucky to catch up with David Etheridge recently and have shared our conversation below.

David, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

When it comes to the Educational System there are many things that should change. I believe many students would benefit from flexible scheduling options for their school day. I realized during the remote teaching months of COVID that many students will get tasks done if they can move at their own timelines and work when they have the capacity to do so. At the High School level students should be able to select between day school and night school. Attendance tends to be low in the early part of the day in many high schools, this can be combated by having students to start the day later.

Schools should expose students to the Career and Technical Education programs as standard curriculum. I believe that students should all have exposure to CTE classes / programs during their school years. During my time as a student there was a large push to go to college, however there are many other careers outside of those that require a college degree from a 4-year institution. If we engage students in multiple forms of learning the engagement in school will increase.

Students should be presented with content that is relatable to their lived experience. When planning each lesson the educator should answer the question “How does this topic relate to the lives of my students?” and “ Where will students need to use this skill in the future?”. By answering these questions educators will become more grounded and able to make lessons more relatable and engaging for students.

To prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career the educational system needs to instill students with transferable skills. As educators we must remember that we are not preparing our students for the past, the present, or tomorrow. As educators , in the K-12 Arena, we are preparing our students for a world that is years ahead. With that in mind, students will need to learn how to collaborate with others, research new information, determine if sources are credible, and problem solve. If we equip our students with these skills they will be prepared to face whatever challenges that are ahead of them.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I entered the field of Education 12 years ago because I view it as the best way to create long lasting systemic change. We often say “children are the future” so I decided that investing my time and energy into molding the future leaders of the world was a logical and effective way to utilize my skills and talents. My goal in education is to transform how people view and think about Mathematics. Oftentimes Math is viewed with angst, horror and dissatisfaction. It receives these negative reviews despite the fact that it is a beautiful language that can help us to understand and mold the world around us. As an educator I want to show people that Mathematics is not disconnected from their everyday lives but is indeed the fabric that ties it all together.
Many Math classes need a complete makeover. Oftentimes we see lessons that are presented to students disconnected from anything that the students find relevant. I aim to inspire my fellow mathematics educators to teach lessons that are centered around their students’ interests and culture. When students can see themselves in mathematics they will engage with it at a higher level.
Through Math Mastermind, my small business, I aim to show my clients how to connect the math from school to their lives in a way that creates enduring connections and understandings. On my social media platforms ( Instagram, TikTok, Youtube, and Facebook ) I share content to show how to connect the “textbook to the checkbook” so my followers see the math from school in their lives. I also use my platform to uplift and create positive mindsets around mathematics.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

The video “The Keys to Success” by ET The Hip-Hop Preacher played a big impact on me. In the video ET says that “in order to be successful you have to want success as bad as you want to breathe.” He discusses how you have to lock onto your goals and work relentlessly to reach them, focusing on the steps to get you there while ignoring the distractions. That has been a lesson that I have kept with me in all of my pursuits.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

My tutoring and consulting clients have come from word of mouth and social media exposure. Whenever I meet someone I make sure to make the best first impression possible because you never know who will be a new client or connection. I also make sure to always have business cards with me so that people I meet can easily get my contact information.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mathmastermind.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/math.mastermind
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MathMastermind/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidetheridge1989/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmhQ_gRYHn_DCMdUBmnuMOA
• Other: TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@mathmastermind