About Us

About The Primary Mathematics Association

The PMA [Auckland], commonly known as the PMA, is a voluntary professional non-profit organisation that has provided professional guidance and support to primary teachers since its inception in the 1980s. Since 1992, we have held an annual One Day Seminar, which provides the opportunity for our community to share effective practices. We have a main committee of 15 people, comprising teachers, university lecturers and other mathematics professional development providers, who are dedicated to supporting fellow teachers in their mathematics teaching. Our aim is to support primary teachers at all stages of their career, in all areas of the motu whether urban, rural or remote, who teach from Year 0 – 8.

If you would like to get in contact with us, please fill in the form at the bottom of the page.

Committee Members

Vivianne Mallabar

President

Vivienne Mallabar is a Deputy Principal at Ormiston Junior College in Auckland. She has always had a passion to engage teachers and students with mathematics to believe ‘they are good enough’, developing a growth mindset. Vivienne has a masters in education with a focus on assessment and building student capabilities as a learner. She is always looking for authentic contexts and inquiry as a way to engage in the study of mathematics for both the teacher and the student.

Tina McKenzie

Vice President

Tina McKenzie is a Year 7 teacher at Somerville Intermediate School and she has held leadership responsibilities in mathematics and statistics. She holds an honours degree in teaching, specialising in mathematics and science education. Tina is passionate about providing engaging, relevant and challenging learning experiences for all students to realise their potential. She is continually exploring innovative ways to improve teaching and learning that promote equitable outcomes, a growth mindset and engaging for all.

Jo Patrick van den Heuvel

Treasurer

Jo Patrick (Dip Tchng, MEd (Hons)) is an Associate Principal at Long Bay Primary School. She has had a long passion for and involvement in mathematics education professional development, spending 8 years as an advisor of mathematics education and numeracy facilitator. She has been a committee member of the Primary Mathematics Association since 1996.

Jo Knox

Secretary

Jo Knox has been involved in mathematics education for more than twenty years as a classroom teacher and leader, a specialist mathematics teacher and mathematics facilitator. She is currently an independent Ministry of Education accredited maths education consultant for her company Maths Development. She is also working on her doctorate at the University of Auckland, researching how to engage primary school students in mathematical proving activity. Jo has been an active committee member for PMA for over ten years.