Courtney Koestler
Education
- Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction (Area of Study: Mathematics Education), University of Wisconsin-Madison
- M.A. in Teaching, George Mason University
- B.S. in Elementary Education (Mathematics), 红杏视频
Research Interests
- Diversity, equity, justice, and critical pedagogies in early childhood education, elementary education, mathematics education, teacher preparation, and professional development
The 红杏视频 Experts Directory is a searchable listing of faculty members who are knowledgeable in specific topical areas. These experts have provided their contact information and this directory serves to provide a way to learn about the broad range of expertise at 红杏视频 and also to connect with an expert about any particular topic of interest.
View Expert DirectoryBiography
As a proud former public school teacher and instructional coach, Dr. Courtney Koestler has taught and engaged in teacher-research in culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse communities in urban, suburban, and rural schools. Recognized and awarded for teaching, research, and outreach, Dr. Koestler is committed to examining and addressing inequity and injustice in all areas of scholarship.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Koestler, C., & Thanheiser, E. (In Press) Teaching Mathematics Through a Critical Literacy Lens.
Thanheiser, E., Robinson, M., Han, S., Sugimoto, A., Koestler, C. & Felton-Koestler, M. (2025). Belonging in the math classroom: Data reasoning about ourselves and others. Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK鈥12, 118(10), 750-759.
Sugimoto, A., Han, S., Koestler, C., Thanheiser, E., Felton-Koestler, M., & Robinson, M.. (2025). . School Science and Mathematics. Advance online publication.
Koestler, C. (2025). . Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK鈥12, 118(8), 601鈥609.
Koestler, C., Wolfe, A., Peasley, T. M., Lisy, J., & Weiss, C. (2024). . The Journal for Research and Practice in College Teaching, 9(2).
Thanheiser, E., Koestler, C., Sugimoto, A. T., & Felton-Koestler, M. D. (2023). . Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK鈥12, 116(10), 746鈥752.
Hallman-Thrasher, A., Lui, C., Koestler, C., Strachota, S., & Thompson, J. (2022). Designing and implementing a STEM summer camp. Technology and Engineering Teacher, 81(4) 20鈥25.
Thanheiser, E., & Koestler, C. (2021). . Mathematics Teacher Educator, 9(3), 202鈥228.
Bartell, T., Koestler, C., & Foote, M. Q. (2021). . Mathematics Teacher Educator, 9(3), 168鈥183.
Hallman-Thrasher, A., Koestler, C., Dani, D., Kolbe, A., & Lyday, K. (2018). . Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 24(2), 90鈥96.
Felton-Koestler, M. D., & Koestler, C. (2017). Mathematics Teacher Educator, 6(1), 67鈥72.
Felton, M. D., & Koestler, C. (2015). 鈥. The New Educator. 1(4), 260鈥276.
International, Peer-Reviewed Conference Proceedings
Koestler, C., Felton-Koestler, M., Thanheiser, E., & Sugimoto, A. (in press). Core practices central to connecting mathematics to social and political issues when designing and implementing tasks in elementary classrooms. Proceedings of the 15th quadrennial meeting of the International Congress on Mathematical Education. Sydney, Australia.
Thanheiser, E., Rubel, L., Herbel-Eisenmann, B., & Koestler, C. (2025). Recontextualizing engagement with data visualizations in the context of the social and ecological. Le Roux, K., Coles, A., Solares-Rojas, A., Bose, A., Vistro-Yu, C., Valero, P., et al. (Eds.), (pp. 378鈥385). ICMI and MATHTED.
Thanheiser, E., Robinson, M., Sugimoto, A., Han, S., Koestler, C., & Felton-Koestler, M., (2024). Creating a sense of belonging: Responding to (some of) Paola Valero鈥檚 2023 PME plenary. (pp. 145鈥152). Evans, T., Marmur, O., Hunter, J., Leach, G., & Jhagroo, J. (Eds.) (2024). (Vol. 4). Auckland, New Zealand: PME.
Robinson, M., Thanheiser, E., Sugimoto, A., Penner, D., Han, S. B., Koestler, C., Felton-Koestler, M. D., Bartels, H. E., Thompson, J. A., & Wolfe, L. (2022). Building community in a research project team through identity sharing. In A. E. Lischka., E. B. Dyer, E. S. Jones, J. Lovett, J. Strayer, & S. Drown (Eds) (pp. 479鈥487). Middle Tennessee State University.
Han, S. B., Thanheiser, E., Sugimoto, A., Robinson, M., Koestler, C., Felton-Koestler, M. D., Thompson, J. A., Bartels, H. E., & Wolfe, L. (2022). Connecting mathematics to the real world: One group of elementary mathematics teachers鈥 experience. In A. E. Lischka., E. B. Dyer, E. S. Jones, J. Lovett, J. Strayer, & S. Drown (Eds) (pp. 1395鈥1399). Middle Tennessee State University.
Scroggins, A., Hand, V., Bartell, T., Byun, S., Herbel-Eisenmann, B., & Koestler, C. (2018). Missing the brilliance of scholars of color: Mathematics teacher educator discourse in a white zone of proximal development. (pp. 1141鈥1144). London, UK: International Society of the Learning Sciences.
Larnell, G. V., L贸pezLeiva, C. A., Scroggins, A. D., Amidon, J., Foote, M. Q., Hand, V. M., Herbel-Eisenmann, B., Koestler, C., & Wager, A. A. (2016). Challenging the reframing of equity in mathematical systems: access, agency, and allies. In M. B. Wood, E. E. Turner, M. Civil, & J. A. Eli (Eds.), (pp. 1608鈥1611). The University of Arizona.
Books
Koestler, C., & Thanheiser. E. (Eds.). (2025) Building community to center equity and justice in mathematics teacher education: Volume VI Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators professional book series. Emerald Publishing.
Felton-Koestler, M., & Koestler, C. (2023). Data in your world: Understanding finances. Rourke Educational Media.
Koestler, C., Ward, J., Zavala, M. d. R., & Bartell, T. (2023). Early childhood mathematics lessons to explore, understand, and respond to social injustice. Corwin Press/National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Koestler, C., & Felton-Koestler, M. (2022). Data in your world: Exploring our schools. Rourke Educational Media.
Felton-Koestler, M., & Koestler, C. (2022). Data in your world: Communities near and far. Rourke Educational Media.
Koestler, C., Felton, M. D., Bieda, K., & Otten, S. (2013). Connecting the NCTM Process Standards and the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics Practices to improve instruction. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Book Chapters
Feeney, D. M., & Koestler, C. (in press). Rethinking neutrality in teaching and learning: Using a critical literacy approach in higher education. In Y. Sinha, U. Miller, and M. Sinha鈥檚 (Eds.) A call to reason: Building inclusive pedagogy and wellness rhetoric into classrooms. Cognella Academic.
Thanheiser, E., & Koestler, C. (2025). Building community to center equity and justice in mathematics teacher education: An introduction. In C. Koestler & E. Thanheiser鈥檚 (Eds.) Building community to center equity and justice in mathematics teacher education (pp. 1鈥13). Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators professional book series. Emerald Publishing.
Robinson, M., Thanheiser, E., Koestler, C., Sugimoto, A., Han, S.B., Felton-Koestler, M., Thompson, J., Wolfe, L., & Bartels, H. (2025). Building critical community through identity sharing. In Koestler & Thanheiser鈥檚 (Eds). Building community to center equity and justice in mathematics teacher education (pp. 447鈥467). Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators professional book series. Emerald Publishing.
Thompson, J, Hallman-Thrasher, A., Heacock, K., Chen, L., & Koestler, C. (2025). Collaborative teams support teacher candidates in fostering students鈥 generalizations: Connecting representations within pattern tasks. In D. Polly & C. Martin (Eds.), Elevating clinical practice in mathematics education: Cases that showcase teaching practices in action (pp. 199鈥210). Emerald Publishing.
Zavala, M., Ward, J, Koestler, C., & Bartell, T. (2024). Building on students鈥 agency, empathy, and mathematics ingenuity. In A. Friesen, M. Mitsch, & K. Du鈥檚 (Eds). Advancing Equity and Inclusion in Early Childhood Education (pp. 196鈥218). IGI.
Koestler, C., Thanheiser, E., Kalinec-Craig, C,., Yeh, C., Jessup, N., & Wager, A. (2024). Justice-oriented mathematics education: A conversation among early childhood and elementary mathematics teacher educators. In B. Benken鈥檚 (Ed.) Reflection on Past, Present and Future: Paving the Way for the Future of Mathematics Teacher Education (pp. 29鈥43). IAP.
Koestler, C., Newton, J., & McGarry, J. (2023). Challenging ableist assumptions in mathematics problems. In T. Bartell, C. Yeh, M. Felton-Koestler, & R. Q. Berry III鈥檚 Upper elementary mathematics lessons to explore, understand, and respond to social injustice (pp. 124鈥132). Corwin Press/National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Guzman, L., Craig, J., Thanheiser, E., Raygoza, M. C., & Koestler, C. (2023). Upper elementary mathematics to explore people represented in our world and community. In T. Bartell, C. Yeh, M. Felton-Koestler, & R. Q. Berry III鈥檚 Upper elementary mathematics lessons to explore, understand, and respond to social injustice (pp. 204鈥215). Corwin Press/National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Felton-Koestler, M., & Koestler, C. (2023). 3D modeling for water lesson. In B. Conway IV., L. Id-Deen, M. C. Raygoza, A. Ruiz, J. W. Staley, & E. Thanheiser鈥檚 Middle school lessons to explore, understand, and respond to social injustice (pp. 254鈥262). Corwin Press/National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Raygoza, M. C., Thanheiser, E., Koestler, C., Craig, J., & Guzman, L. (2023). Middle school mathematics to explore people represented in our world and community. In B. Conway IV., L. Id-Deen, M. C. Raygoza, A. Ruiz, J. W. Staley, and E. Thanheiser鈥檚, Middle School lessons to explore, understand, and respond to social injustice (pp. 115鈥123). Corwin Press/National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Helfrich, S., Hartman, S.L., Dani, D., Felton-Koestler, M., Harrison, L., Koestler, C., Gut, D., Keifer Kennedy, M., Hicks, S., & Middleton, R. (2023). A reimagined research-based clinical model of educator preparation. In S.R. Helfrich and S.L. Hartman (Eds.), Exemplary Clinical Models of Teacher Preparation (pp. 29鈥60). Information Age Publishing.
Hand, V., Herbel-Eisenmann, B., Byun, S., Koestler, C. & Bartell, T. (2021). Tensions and failures in an analysis of whiteness among a racially and socially diverse group of mathematics teacher educators. In Andersson, A. & Barwell, R. (Eds.) Applying critical mathematics education (pp. 123鈥143). Brill.
Koestler, C. (2016) Challenging and disrupting deficit notions in our work with early childhood and elementary teachers. In D. Y. White, S. Crespo, & M. Civil (Eds.). Cases for teacher educators: Facilitating conversations about inequities in mathematics classrooms (pp. 113鈥120). Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators and Information Age Publishing.
Felton, M. D., & Koestler, C. (2012). 鈥淨uestions and answers can mean something鈥: Supporting critical reflection in mathematics education. In R. Flessner, G. Miller, K. Patrizio, J. and Horwitz (Eds.) Agency through teacher education: Reflection, community, and learning (pp. 25鈥35). Rowman & Littlefield Education.
Koestler, C. (2012). Beyond apples, puppy dogs, and ice cream: Preparing prospective K-8 teachers to teach mathematics for equity and social justice. In A. Wager and D. Stinson (Eds.) Teaching mathematics for social justice: Conversations with educators (pp. 81鈥98). National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Other Media and Creative Activities
Thanheiser, E., & Koestler, C. (2025, Aug. 7). Episode 129: Building community to center equity and justice in mathematics teacher education. [Audio podcast episode]. Amidon Planet. Hosted by Joel Amidon.
Thanheiser, E., Koestler, C., Sugimoto, A. T., & Felton-Koestler, M. D. (2025, May 13). . Illuminations Classroom Resources. NCTM.org
Koestler, C., Ward, J., Zavala, M. d. R., & Bartell, T. (2022, Sept. 22) Corwin Connect.
Dani, D., Koestler, C., & Chen, L. (2022, Summer). STEM integration in field experience for mathematics and science teachers. , 5, 1鈥7.
Thanheiser, E., Koestler, C., Sugimoto, A., & Felton-Koestler, C. (2022, May 10). . Featured at the 2022 STEM for All Video Showcase: Access, inclusion, and equity.
Dani, D., Hallman-Thrasher, A. H., Koestler, C., Lui, C., Sandler, N., Stigall, A., & Parsons, J. (2022, May 10). . Featured at the 2022 STEM for All Video Showcase: Access, Inclusion, and Equity.
Koestler, C., & Thanheiser, E. (2022, May 4). . Teaching Math Teaching. Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators. Hosted by Joel Amidon.
Koestler, C. (2022, Jan.). Supporting LGBTQ+ Students and Families in Math Classrooms [Twitter Chat, #OCTMchat]. 红杏视频 Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Bartell, T., Koestler, C., & Foote, M. Q. (2021, Dec.) . Mathematics Teacher Educator. Hosted by Eva Thanheiser.
Koestler, C., & Thanheiser. (2021, Dec. 15) . Mathematics Teacher Educator. Hosted by Eva Thanheiser.
Koestler, C., Jessup, N. & Thanheiser, E. (2021, May 3) . Jabbedu. Hosted by Jonathan Ruths.
Koestler, C., Chao, T., and Yeh, C. (2021, Feb). Bringing identities in and inclusivity through mathematics story problems [Twitter Chat, #OCTMchat]. 红杏视频 Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Koestler, C., & Felton-Koestler, M. (2020, March 22) . Teaching Math Teaching. Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators. Hosted by Dusty Jones, Eva Thanheiser, and Joel Amidon.
Koestler, C. (2019, Oct. 30). Patton College of Education EDTalk.
Koestler, C. (2018, June 15). , Part 2 [Invited blog post]. My NCTM.
Koestler, C. (2018, May 30). . My NCTM.
Koestler, C. (2017, Nov. 28). . Teaching Matters. WOUB Public Media. Hosted by Scott Titsworth.
Koestler, C. (2011). A review of. Teaching Children Mathematics, 17(6), p. 378.
Externally-Funded Research Projects
- 2021 - Present: Principal Investigator (August 2024鈥損resent), Co-Principal Investigator (2021鈥2024)
- Connecting Elementary Mathematics Teaching to Real-World Issues
- Funded by the National Science Foundation
- Collaborative Grant Total: $1,926,121
- 2018鈥2024 Co-Principal Investigator
- Rural Appalachian Leaders and Local Youth for STEM
- Funded by the National Science Foundation: $2,321,818
- 2018鈥2019 Principal Investigator
- Moving with Math and Literacy
- Funded by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation: $9,189
- 2016鈥2017 Co-Principal Investigator
- Scaffolding Inquiry and Problem-Solving through Literacy and Argumentation Strategies
- Funded by the 红杏视频 Department of Higher Education: $148,285
- 2016鈥2017 Co-Principal Investigator
- SouthEast 红杏视频 Math Teachers鈥 Circle 4.0
- Funded by the 红杏视频 Department of Higher Education: $50,116
- 2015鈥2017 Principal Investigator
- Engaging in Classroom Inquiry to Create More Equitable Mathematics and Science Classrooms in Southeast 红杏视频
- Funded by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation: $36,989
- 2015鈥2016 Co-Principal Investigator
- SouthEast 红杏视频 Math Teachers鈥 Circle 3.0
- Funded by the 红杏视频 Department of Higher Education: $45,049
- 2014 -2020: Consultant (2014-2020), Key Personnel (2014)
- Access, Agency, and Allies in Mathematical Systems (A3IMS)
- Funded by the National Science Foundation: $2,532,254
- 2013鈥2014 Principal Investigator
- Common Core Collaborative (C3): A Collaboration of the State Universities and Education Stakeholders in Implementing the Math Common Core in Schools Across Arizona
- Funded by Arizona Board of Regents: $948,440
- 2011鈥2014 Co-Principal Investigator
- Algebra Ready: Transitioning to Academic Success
- Funded by Helios Education Foundation: $560,000
- 2010鈥2013 Key Personnel
- Beyond Bridging: Co-Education of Preservice and Inservice Elementary
- Teachers in Science and Mathematics
- Funded by the National Science Foundation: $2,223,107