Dallas Entrepreneur, Counselor Helps Children To Understand And Love Math
Amy Caron Halstead loves helping kids. She earned her bachelor's in education with a specialization in middle-level mathematics and science and her master's in education with a specialization in school counseling from Baylor University. The former middle school teacher, cheerleading coach and counselor is the co-owner and educational director of the Lake Highlands and Highland Park Mathnasiums, learning centers that help students understand and love math.
Why did you pursue a master's degree?
"I decided to pursue a graduate degree in counseling because of the work that I did at HP Miles Middle School (a small school located outside of Waco) as an individual and group counselor. I really enjoyed helping the kids on an emotional level but also having the knowledge and ability to help them academically. I wanted to be able to understand and handle their behavior in the classroom and I wanted to be a resource to students that don't have anyone outside of school."
What would you tell someone who is considering returning to school to earn a master's degree?
"Pick a field that truly interests you. My master's didn't feel like work at all. I was teaching full-time, and I still breezed through it because I enjoyed the topic so much. It didn't feel like extra work because I truly enjoyed learning for the sake of knowing something new and how to use it as opposed to simply learning for the sake of learning. The letters behind your name don't mean near as much as the work that you will do afterward to change the world or just one life."
What was the biggest reward for earning a master's degree?
"It's not the degree; it's what I can do with the degree. I am better prepared to handle people emotionally than I was before. This means that I have a better ability to help them."
Why did you open Mathnasium?
"I wanted to continue to help children with more than just math. I enjoy counseling and helping students more by hiring the best math instructors to help students succeed in a topic that they originally said they hated. It is rewarding to see that I am changing so many lives."
Robin D. Everson is a native Chicagoan who resides in Dallas, Texas. Her appreciation for art, food, wine, people and places has helped her become a well-respected journalist. A life-long lover of education, Robin seeks to learn and enlighten others about culture. You can find her work at Examiner.com
