Maha Towne, Math Aide at Pinkerton Academy
Maha Towne’s journey to Pinkerton Academy was unique — and she knows that.
Working with her children as a homeschool parent, Maha heard great things about the nearby Pinkerton Academy and one day, reached out to the school about books and potential resources to help with her homeschooling efforts. The staff at Pinkerton didn’t just share resources but went above and beyond to help — giving Maha a tour of Pinkerton’s campus and offering their support going forward to make sure Maha had what she needed to teach her children.
That initial impression and willingness to help stuck with Maha and her husband. Years later, after Maha’s children graduated high school, grew up, and had families of their own, her husband encouraged her to apply for a position at the school.
“I walked into Pinkerton’s HR office, and I said, ‘I homeschooled my kids, and I can do math, French, English, whatever you want,’” said Maha. “Immediately, the woman there — Mary Anne Bergstrom — said, ‘We need a math person.’ A few days later, I had an interview, and the people I interviewed with, the head of the math department and one of the teachers, were both very kind and I felt very comfortable.”
Helping others succeed in math
That was more than five years ago and today, Maha is a Math Aide at Pinkerton’s Math Center.
Pinkerton’s Math Center is open to any student looking for extra help in mathematics and is staffed by several math teachers and students. The additional support is important and Pinkerton’s Math Center is a crucial resource for students on campus, especially as students nationwide face ongoing challenges in the subject.
According to the EdWeek Research Center, a recent survey noted 67% of teachers reported that math anxiety was a challenge for their students, and 1 in 4 said they often feel anxious doing math themselves.
And that’s a common challenge. Research shows that math anxiety is linked to higher activities in the brain that relate to the fear of failure before a math task, not during it. That discomfort makes some students more reluctant to practice math, which often impacts their confidence and skill in the subject. Those negative thoughts can even lead to a student believing that they “just aren’t a math person.”
Maha and her colleagues at Pinkerton’s Math Center help students not just with specific math problems, but with their challenges in the subject — providing the boost of confidence students often need when feeling frustrated.
Empowering students to grow and thrive
Whether students need help with just one assignment or understanding larger concepts, Maha and her colleagues work to ensure each student who walks into Pinkerton’s Math Center leaves feeling more confident than when they walked in just a little bit ago — a goal that is incredibly important to Maha.
Born in the Middle East in Beirut, Lebanon, Maha immigrated to the United States when she was just a young girl. And, despite not knowing any English, she enrolled in school.
“I remember crying every day in school,” recalled Maha. “My principal would bring me into her office. Looking back, it’s funny because I didn’t understand what she was saying, but I understood what she was doing. Like, she was encouraging me that I’d learn, I just had to be patient. I’d be sitting in her office and she’d be smiling at me, encouraging me. And because of her kindness and the kindness of my teachers growing up, I learned and grew.”
Those moments when Maha felt helpless and lost, but someone made a difference, stick out to her and often come through in her work now with students at Pinkerton. Maha is well-loved in Pinkerton’s Math Center and a friendly face students look forward to seeing — whether it’s just one or two quick trips or more regular visits.
“You just have to keep going and keep listening,” said Maha, reflecting on working one-on-one with students who feel frustrated. “You can ask me 100 times if you want. I tell them if it’s not sinking in, we can try to come at it from a different direction because I’ve been through it too, and I understand.”
“I had one young man who ran into the math center before his midterm test and said, ‘I have a half hour to learn one unit,’” said Maha. “So, he gave me his unit materials, and we both worked as fast as we could. ‘Do you understand this?’ Do you understand this?’ I asked him. After his midterm test, he ran back into the math center and said, ‘I passed!’ I was so excited for him.”
And just like her own personal journey that led her to Pinkerton, Maha knows each student’s journey in math is unique and often winding — and she reminds students of that.
“When a student comes into the Math Center, I always remind myself that every person is important,” said Maha. “As a young girl, I was an immigrant, and if it wasn’t for my principal and teachers, I don’t think I would have succeeded. My goal with each student when I sit down with them is to make sure they’re better when they leave.”
Recognizing an inspiring individual
Maha’s determination to help each and every student she comes face-to-face with hasn’t gone unnoticed either.
Each year at Pinkerton, the Alan B. Shepard Award is given to faculty and staff to recognize exceptional job performance and contributions that support the school’s vision and mission to help students become critical thinkers, effective communicators, and respectful, contributing members of our society.
At the 2024 ceremony for the award earlier this year, Maha was shocked to hear her name called out. In fact, she pointed to everyone around her for helping her grow and flourish in her position — from Mary Anne when she first applied for the role to her colleagues she works with each day.
And while Maha was surprised by the recognition, her colleagues and everyone she’s ever crossed paths with at Pinkerton weren’t surprised at all. Maha’s impact has been far-reaching, and she’s a shining example of someone who goes above and beyond in their role each and every day.
