Dr. Laura Mason is a dedicated and innovative educator with a passion for creating inclusive and effective learning environments. Currently, she serves as a Field Coordinator and Lead CourseDesigner for the Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support (SAILS) statewide program. The SAILS Mathematical Reasoning for Decision Making (MRDM) course utilizes a hybrid instructional model that combines the professional expertise of certified teachers with the dynamic properties of multimedia and digital content.

With over 30 years of experience in education, Dr. Mason has taught in multiple disciplines and settings. She has written, implemented, and trained others in student support and advocacy at the district, state, and regional levels. While working in the classroom and consulting at the district level, she was a staunch advocate for students of all abilities. Dr. Mason’s journey in policymaking and implementing new policies includes a series of impactful initiatives that transformed virtual education for students with special needs. Her meticulous attention to detail and commitment to compliance ensured that schools met all federal and state requirements.

She also researched and authored grants for private, corporate, state, and federal funding, providing teachers with the tools and training needed to ensure that students received a tailored and accessible education. Laura holds a doctoral degree in Education Leadership and a specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction, both from Carson-Newman University. Through her volunteer work, Dr. Mason has demonstrated her commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community. Her contributions to the Monroe Area Council for the Arts not only supported the arts but also highlighted the importance of integrating arts education into the broader educational landscape.

Kathy DeAngelis is a dedicated educator with over 20 years of mathematical teaching experience at middle school, high school, and college levels.  Currently, she is in her 12^th year as a Field Coordinator for the Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support (SAILS) statewide program.  Kathy helped review and edit the SAILS Mathematical Reasoning for Decision Making (MRDM) curriculum.

Her education philosophy centers around creating a learning atmosphere where students feel comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas, and learning at their own pace to achieve success.  With her education background, Kathy knows to create this atmosphere it is important to have a variety of teaching strategies and approaches.  She also believes that learning is a lifelong endeavor.  Students need to gain basic foundational knowledge in the classroom to be able to apply that knowledge to real-world applications in the future.

Kathy holds a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Michigan State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Western Michigan University.  Through the MRDM course, Kathy hopes to create an atmosphere where every student can be successful and no student asks the question, “Where am I ever going to use this in my life?”