Secondary Mathematics Teacher

Making mathematics click, on four continents.

Teaching Algebra with confidence.

From South African classrooms to international schools in Sweden, the Czech Republic and Kuwait, I help students at every level see that mathematics makes sense.

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31Years teaching
5Countries
4Continents
Portrait of Leana Ackermann

About me

No matter where you are in the world, all students have the same psychological and social needs.

  • South Africa
  • Sweden
  • Czech Republic
  • Kuwait
  • USA (online)

I have been a mathematics teacher for 31 years. My career started at a private school in South Africa, where I taught high school mathematics to Sotho students. It was a good experience that prepared me to work with different cultural groups.

For ten years I taught high school mathematics from Grade 8 to 12 and served as Subject Head for Grade 8 Mathematics. I also loved the time outside the classroom, coaching athletics and cross-country running.

For seven years I taught at the American Creativity Academy in Kuwait, where I taught every level from Pre-Algebra to IB Math SL. Between 2015 and 2017 I taught middle school mathematics at Internationella Engelska Skolan in Stockholm and Halmstad, where I also learned the value of co-teaching.

What I teach

Curricula I have taught across South African, American, Swedish, British and IB systems.

Pre-Algebra & Algebra

Algebra 1 and 2, from first principles to confident problem solving.

Geometry

Reasoning, proof and spatial thinking for high school students.

Pre-Calculus & Calculus

Preparing students for university-level mathematics.

IB Mathematics SL

Taught in Kuwait and the Czech Republic, alongside GCSE Mathematics.

Experience

Most recent first.

  1. Feb 2024 – present

    Russian School of Mathematics (Online)

    USA

    Teaching the Russian way of mathematics to Grade 2 and 3 students online.

  2. Aug 2019 – Jun 2023

    American School of Kuwait

    Kuwait City, Kuwait

    High school mathematics teacher: Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus and Calculus.

  3. Aug 2018 – Aug 2019

    Career break

    Czech Republic and South Africa

    I stepped away from the classroom to care for my family, and returned to teaching in Kuwait.

  4. Aug 2017 – Aug 2018

    Carlsbad International School

    Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic

    High school IB Math SL teacher, and GCSE Mathematics for Grade 10 students.

  5. Aug 2015 – Aug 2017

    Internationella Engelska Skolan

    Stockholm and Halmstad, Sweden

    Taught middle school mathematics in the Swedish system using Swedish textbooks, translating content and planning activities and games for each lesson. The Swedish curriculum is problem-solving based and focuses on word problems. It was a year of tremendous professional growth, teaching in an unfamiliar system, and I was introduced to co-teaching.

  6. Aug 2008 – Aug 2015

    American Creativity Academy

    Kuwait City, Kuwait

    Started with middle school Pre-Algebra, my first experience of the American curriculum. It went so well that I moved on to high school mathematics and, towards the end, was entrusted with the IB SL Math programme. I taught Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus and IB Math SL 1 and 2.

  7. Jan 1998 – Aug 2008

    Grens High School

    East London, South Africa

    Taught high school mathematics in the South African curriculum from Grade 8 to 12, and coached athletics and cross-country running.

  8. Jan 1997 – Jan 1998

    Drakensig Primary School

    Hoedspruit, South Africa

    Primary mathematics teacher for Grades 4 to 7.

  9. Jan 1997 – Jan 1998

    Mapulaneng Technical College

    Bosbokrand, South Africa

    Lectured Management Communication Skills to local Sotho students.

  10. Jan 1996 – Jan 1997

    El Shaddai School

    South Africa

    Developed and implemented the curriculum for my classes from the ground up in a brand-new private school, teaching high school mathematics to local Sotho students.

  11. Jan 1995 – Jan 1996

    Vaal Christian School

    South Africa

    High school mathematics, Grades 8 to 12.

Education

1990 – 1992

Bachelor of Commerce

Northwest University, South Africa

1993 – 1994

Higher Education Diploma

Northwest University, South Africa

Kind words

From colleagues and the families I have taught.

References

Colleagues and school leaders who have worked with me.

Ms. Josephine Osadec

Assistant Principal, Quality Assurance & Teacher Trainer
Maple Bear Global Schools

Ms. Lana Hallal

Assistant Principal and HOD
American Creativity Academy, Kuwait

Mr. Michael McGushin

HOD
Internationella Engelska Skolan, Sweden

Mr. Don Hill

Assistant Principal and HOD
Internationella Engelska Skolan, Sweden

Mr. Tomas Andreasson

Principal
Internationella Engelska Skolan, Sweden

Ms. Sara Morrow

IB Coordinator
Carlsbad International School, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic

Mr. Gabriel Di Mauro

Assistant Principal
The American School of Kuwait

Monique Livsey

Superintendent
The American School of Kuwait

Beyond the classroom

Running

Tennis

Biking

Hiking

Photography

Get in touch

Interested in working together? I would love to hear from you.

ackermannbwca@gmail.com
+1 507 412 7167
Rosemount, Minnesota, USA
CV / Résumé