053 | The Unseen Impact of Teaching with Shelby Strong

I instantly knew I wanted to be Shelby's friend when I met her in Atlanta this Fall at the NCSM Annual Meeting.

Not only does she seem to know everyone in math education, she carries herself with a warmth and wholeheartedness that’s impossible to miss. Shelby is the kind of educator who leads with joy, connection, and a deep belief in students.

In this episode, Shelby joins me to talk about the often unseen work of teaching—the emotional weight, the long-game mindset, and the moments of quiet breakthrough that remind us why we stay. She reminds us that teaching is an act of hope. That even when we don’t see the results right away, we’re still planting something powerful.

Shelby’s voice is a steady one, full of honesty and heart. I know you’ll walk away from this episode feeling encouraged, grounded, and maybe even a little more connected to your own purpose.

Shelby Strong is a math coach and consultant originally from New Orleans, now living and working in New England. Her mission? To dismantle the myth of the “math person” and build confidence in every member of the community—from students to teachers to school leaders.

Shelby is known for her bold honesty, deep compassion, and love of vertical alignment (yes, really). If you let her, she'll happily spend hours talking about math education, sandwiches, trapezoids, and anything else you bring to the table. She believes math belongs to everyone—and she’ll make you believe it too.

📍 Find Shelby online:

strongermath.com
🔗 LinkedIn
🌤️ @sneffleupagus.bsky.social