Dr. Julia Keith is a seventh and eighth grade mathematics teacher at Timber Springs Middle School. She has been a teacher with OCPS for 15 years, teaching all courses from sixth grade mathematics to Algebra 2 Honors at the middle school level. Dr. Keith earned her Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Central Florida, writing her dissertation on The Role of Mathematics Anxiety on the Cognition and Metacognition of Middle School Algebra 1 Students During Cognitively Demanding Tasks. Before her doctorate, Dr. Keith earned her master’s in Mathematics Education from the University of Central Florida and her Bachelor of Business from the Australian Catholic University.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Keith has had the opportunity to write mathematics curriculum for the county spanning 6th-12th grades, be part of several textbook adoption committees, and provide district-level professional development to teachers and administrators. Since beginning her doctoral journey through the Noyce Fellowship, Dr. Keith has presented at national, state and regional conferences, focusing on mathematics anxiety and acceleration in mathematics. She has two articles in publication with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching (MTLT) publication and will start the role of Department Editor for NCTM’s From the Archives in January 2025. Dr. Keith was recently appointed Promotional Materials Manager for the Florida Council of Teachers of Mathematics (FCTM) and received a grant from FCTM to start a Math/Art Club at her school, a project that she believes will inspire her students and the educational community. In addition, Dr. Keith is currently working in partnership with the UCF Department of Mathematics Math Circle, creating engaging lessons and activities for their sixth grade group. Dr. Keith is dedicated to continuous learning and improvement to be a better educator for her students and expand her network by sharing her classroom experiences with others.