#FollowNumeraSee
We’re delighted to feature #founder Katrina Gormley for our #follow blog post this week, the brains behind NumeraSee, an award winning mathematics mentoring service, offering online and face to face tuition for primary school aged children and their parents. Katrina is part of the SheGenerate cohort 1, a big thank you to Pulsar NI for sponsoring Katrina’s space.
Katrina’s approach is hands on, games based and prioritises ‘Seeing is Believing’. Her teaching tools include: marshmallows for Place Value; tinned beans for conversion within capacity, weight and mass; balls of wool for 12 and 24 hour clock, skittles for decimal fractions… Intrigued? And so are the kids and that is exactly why it works!
To get us started - how would you describe yourself in 6 words or less?
Derry girl teaching maths with sass
What prompted you to start your business?
As an educator, I could see that children had missed the ‘hands-on’ element to maths teaching. It is important that children are given the opportunity to see maths and will ultimately have a much deeper rooted understanding. Would it surprise you to learn that at least 20% of the population experience maths anxiety? Undoubtedly a very worrying pre-pandemic statistic, further escalated by the fact that it is more prevalent in females, and at a time when we are trying to even up the representation of women in STEM. In a post lockdown world children have emerged even less confident in mathematics breeding further anxiety. As an educator I felt compelled to act and since October 2021 NumeraSee has been making a difference. Potential customers include working parents and those looking for additional support for their child.
Tell us a little bit more about you?
I graduated from the Ulster University in 2008 a with a Bachelors Degree and Masters in Music. For the next 8 years I worked as a music teacher with the Education Authority. In 2015 I decided to return to University and completed a Primary PGCE. I have worked in an amazing Primary School since then teaching P3-P7. This has given me an amazing insight into the progression and requirements of teaching mathematics in a primary setting. I have seen how important 'Seeing is Believing' is to our young learners and sparked an interest in me to further enthuse and engage children in maths.
Fill us in on your female founder journey?
As a very early founder I was apprehensive about applying for the programme as I felt that the majority of my business existed in my head. I very quickly realised, having received amazing feedback and bags of encouragement from within the community, that I had made the correct decision to get involved. To be included as one of the SheGenerate cohort 1 has boosted my confidence immensely as I admire the other women greatly. I have made firm friends and have been given amazing advice throughout. I have encouraged so many friends to get involved as I know how beneficial the programme has been to me.
How did you hear about AwakenHub and what prompted you to apply for SheGenerate?
I heard about AwakenHub in June 2021 from a friend who worked in broadcasting. He knew of my vision and knew that the community of women in AwakenHub would be an excellent fit for me. He was right.
What have you gotten out of the SheGenerate process?
When I think about my own SheGenerate experience I feel proud to have been involved. I know I have a long way to go but the foundation that the programme has given me is a strong one. I will be a life-long member of AwakenHub. I was also fortunate enough to be chosen as one of 6 participants for SheGenerate Showcase in June 2022 and came 2nd which is a huge boost to my confidence. It also pushed me out of my comfort zone to pitch my business idea and ‘ask’ to the AwakenHub community including potential investors.
What does success look like to you - in 12 months and in 5 years?
Already in less than a year - parent feedback has reported a greater willingness in their children to freely engage in mathematics and have seen a marked increase in confidence and perseverance, resulting in fewer meltdowns at the homework table. Parents have also admitted to feeling empowered and more equipped to support their child.
In 12 months I hope to be working in NumeraSee on a full time basis, with products at market, a consultancy and training strand and successfully recruited enthusiastic educators to scale delivery. In 5 years I hope to have established NumeraSee as a global brand. I plan to scale delivery by recruiting educators and spreading services into other countries including the UAE and China. I am also developing a line of products, set to compliment existing programmes, to be used in both homes and schools. I have also been approached by schools regarding CPD and ETI, with plans to provide a training and consultancy element to NumeraSee later this year.
SheGenerate is only a small part of AwakenHub - now that you have the community's attention - what can we/they do for you?
I would like to link with other educators who may like to get involved and help scale NumeraSee. Also to have the opportunity to engage with potential investors, who may have a particular interest in female STEM and a commitment to helping balance their representation in future careers.
As a founder - what are your non-negotiables?
I will continue to provide fun, interactive lessons to build confidence and knowledge in kids. I am inspired by strong female bosses who don't see barriers to expanding and growing their brands. Go Big and Be Brave.
#FollowNumeraSee
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LinkedIn Katrina Gormley
