Rachelle Ashley

Rachelle Ashley

Fellowship Placement: United States Senate
Hometown: Bronx, New York

Rachell Ashley is a math teacher with 17 years of experience, currently teaching at the Highbridge Green School (HBGS) in the Bronx, New York. Combining a strong foundation in mathematics with a deep commitment to teaching, she holds a B.S. in Applied Math from Rochester Institute of Technology and a B.A. in Math Education from Bard College.

As a former Math for America (MfA) Early Career Fellow and NYU Astor Fellow, she has a strong passion for learning and continually strives to grow as an educator. As an MfA Emeritus Fellow, she shares her knowledge and insights about math education not only with her colleagues at HBGS but also with other math and science teachers within the MfA community through various professional development opportunities.

She has taught in Abu Dhabi for four years, gaining a global perspective on teaching and education. She has also served as a chapter leader of the United Federation of Teachers, where she worked to represent faculty interests and foster collaboration. She has been a model teacher for the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) and currently serves as a peer collaborative teacher for the NYC DOE, helping to lead her school’s math team and facilitating the department’s inquiry process to ensure a consistent approach to math instruction.

Passionate about educational equity, she guided the initiative to make her school a PROSE (Progressive Redesign Opportunity Schools for Excellence) school. She worked with a range of stakeholders to navigate the complexities of the process and bring about positive changes for both teachers and students.

She believes all students can learn math, especially when they are given the right support. She emphasizes creating a joyful, engaging classroom where students feel empowered and have a voice in their learning. Above all, she believes that love, respect, and putting students first are the foundation of a successful classroom.

With strong organizational and leadership skills, she is eager to contribute to STEM education efforts through the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program, where she hopes to shape policies that create more equitable opportunities for students.