Dr Matt Sexton
Director of Mathematics Teaching and Learning Centre (MTLC)
Faculty of Education and Arts
Areas of expertise: Mathematics curriculum leadership in schools; primary mathematics education; middle leadership in schools; teacher professional learning; cultural historical activity theory
Phone: +61 3 9953 3283
Email: matthew.sexton@acu.edu.au
Location: ACU Melbourne Campus
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0856-8413
Dr Matt Sexton (PhD, MEd, BA, BTeach) is the Director of the Mathematics Teaching and Learning Centre (MTLC), a Mathematics Education Lecturer, and the Enterprise Manager for the Faculty of Education and Arts (FEA). Matt joined ACU in 2010, working with pre-service teachers in mathematics education, where he has since received four Executive Dean commendations for teaching excellence, and in 2023, received the FEA Excellence in Teaching Award for outstanding teaching. Since taking over as MTLC Director in 2018, Matt has generated approx. $430,000 of revenue for the MTLC, supported by grants and other professional learning project funds. With his focus on building relationships through school-university-industry partnerships, Matt works with school communities and education sectors, often teaching mathematics lessons in schools, working with classroom teachers and mathematics leaders. He engages in research concerning mathematics leadership activity and provides leadership professional development focusing on improving school mathematics.
View academia profile
Select publications
Book chapters (edited)
- Gervasoni, A., Hunter, R., Bicknell, B., & Sexton, M. (2012). Powerful pedagogical actions in mathematics education. In B. Perry, T. Lowrie, T. Logan, A. MacDonald, & J. Greenlees (Eds.), Research in mathematics education in Australasia 2008-2011 (pp. 193 - 218). Sense.
- Refereed journal articles
- Sexton, M. & Downton, A. (2014). School mathematics leaders' beliefs about their role when participating in a school mathematics project. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, 19(3), 3-5.
- Clarke, D., Roche, A., Wilkie, K., Wright, V., Brown, J., Downton, A., Horne, M., Knight, R., McDonough, A., Sexton, M., & Worrall, C. (2013). Demonstration lessons in mathematics education: Teachers' observation foci and intended changes in practice. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 25(2), 217-230.
- Sexton, M., Gervasoni, A., & Brandenburg, R. (2009). Using a concept cartoon to gain insight into children's calculation strategies. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom, 4(14), 24-28.
Refereed conference papers
- Sexton, M., & Lamb, J. (2023). Evidencing relational trust within mathematics leadership activity. In B. Reid-O'Connor, E. Prieto-Rodriguez, K. Holmes, & A. Hughes (Eds.), Weaving mathematics education from all perspectives (Proceedings of the 45th annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, pp. 459-466). MERGA.
- Sexton, M., & Nuttall, J. (2021). Leadership of strengths-based approaches for early years mathematics education: Using CHAT as a framework for educational leaders' professional learning leadership. In Y. H. Leong, B. Kaur, B. H. Choy, J. B. W. Yeo, & S. L. Chin (Eds.), Excellence in mathematics education: Foundations and pathways (Proceedings of the 43rd annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, pp. 92-95). MERGA.
- Sexton, M. (2019). Object-motives of mathematics leaders' professional learning leadership during participation in a mathematics project. In G. Hine, S. Blackley, & A. Cooke (Eds.). Mathematics education research: Impacting practice (Proceedings of the 42nd annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, pp. 660-667). MERGA.
- Sexton, M., & Lamb, J. (2017). Using activity theory to understand a mathematics leaders' motivations and use of mathematical knowledge for teaching. In A. Downton, S. Livy, & J. Hall (Eds.), 40 years on: We are still learning! (Proceedings of the 40th annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, pp. 466-473). MERGA.
- Sexton, M., & Downton, A. (2014). School mathematics leaders' perceptions of successes and challenges of their leadership role within a mathematics improvement project. In J. Anderson, M. Cavanagh, & A. Prescott (Eds.), Curriculum in focus: Research guided practice (Proceedings of the 37th annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, pp.581-588). MERGA.
- McDonough, A., & Sexton, M. (2011). Building preservice teacher capacity for effective mathematics teaching through partnerships with teacher educators and primary school communities. In J. Clarke, B. Kissane, J. Mousley, T. Spencer, & S. Thornton (Eds.), Mathematics: Traditions and [new] practices. Proceedings of the AAMT-MERGA conference, Alice Springs (Vol. 1, pp. 508-514). MERGA.
- Sexton, M. (2010). Using concept cartoons to access student beliefs about preferred approaches to mathematics learning and teaching. In L. Sparrow, B. Kissane, & C. Hurst (Eds.), Shaping the future of mathematics education (Proceedings of the 33rd annual conference of the Mathematical Research Group of Australasia, Fremantle, pp. 515-522). MERGA.
Books
- Clarke, D., Roche, A., & Sexton, M. (2022). Engaging maths: 21 more favourite lessons. Classic Press.
Reports
- Clarke, D., Downton, A., Clarkson, P., Roche, A., Sexton, M., Wilkie, K., Brown, J., Hamilton, L., Horne, M., Knight, R., McDonough, A., Scott, A., & Wright, V. (2013). Contemporary teaching and learning of mathematics 2012: Report to CEO Melbourne. Australian Catholic University.
- Clarke, D., Downton, A., Clarkson, P., Roche, A., Sexton, M., Brown, J., Hamilton, L., Horne, M., Knight, R., McDonough, A., Scott, A., Wilkie, K., & Wright, V. (2012). Contemporary teaching and learning of mathematics 2011: Report to CEO Melbourne. Australian Catholic University.
- Clarke, D., Downton, A., Brown, J., Clarkson, P., Hamilton, L., Horne, M., Knight, R., McDonough, A., Roche, A., Scott, A., & Sexton, M. (2011). Contemporary teaching and learning of mathematics 2010: Report to CEO Melbourne. Australian Catholic University.
Professional journal articles
- Sexton, M. (2019). Diffy towers: Exploring subtraction as difference. Prime Number, 34(3), 24-27.
- Sexton, M. (2015). Two of my favourite mathematical tasks for the early years. Prime Number, 30(3), 9-11.
- Sexton, M., Brown, J., & Downton, A. (2010). Understanding fractions. Prime Number, 25(4), 3-6.
- Sexton, M. & Weedon, L. (2009). CEOM strategic support and the School Advisor Mathematics. Learning Matters, 14(1), 63-64.
Projects
2023
- Mathematics Leadership Mentor Program: Mathematics Leadership in Rural and Marginalised Communities (Project Lead): $36,400 (ACU Equity Pathways funding)
- Leading Excellence in Mathematics with Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (Project Co-lead): $20,000 (Catholic Education Parramatta Diocese funding)
- Mathematics Online Interview (MOI) and Fractions and Decimals Online Interview (FDOI) Report Enhance project (Project Team Member): $111,510.30 (Victorian Department of Education and Training tender funding)
2022
- Mathematics Leader Mentor Program: An equity program for maths leaders working in regional and marginalised school communities (MTLC & Equity Pathways professional development project): $33,500 (ACU Equity Pathways funding)
2021
- Being and doing the work of mathematics leadership: A remote professional learning series for Parramatta Diocesan numeracy leaders (MTLC professional development project): $5,200 (Catholic Education Parramatta Diocese funding)
2019-present
- Primary Mathematics and Science Specialists (PMSS) Initiative (Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET, professional development project)
2010-2012
- Contemporary Teaching and Learning of Mathematics Project (ACU & CEOM research and professional development project): $1,029,000 (CEOM funding, 2008-2012)
2010-2012
- University Partnerships for Teaching and Learning Mathematics (ACU pre-service teacher capacity building project within CTLM): $12,000 (ACU internal funding)
Accolades
2023
- Faculty of Education and Arts 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award
2022
- Faculty of Education and Arts Executive Dean's Commendation: Excellence in Teaching (Outstanding results in SELT Surveys)
2017
- Faculty of Education and Arts Executive Dean's Commendation: Excellence in Teaching (Outstanding results in SELT Surveys)
Appointments
- Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA)
- Mathematical Association of Victoria (MAV)
- Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT)
International journal review panels
- Mathematics Teacher Education and Development Journal (2021-present)
- Mathematics Education Research Journal (2019-present)
Public engagement activities
Keynote Speaker and Invited Workshop Presenter
- Aiming high by leading well: Strategies for school mathematics leadership that challenges mathematics learning (Keynote presentation): Mathematical Association of Victoria (MAV) conference: 60th annual MAV conference 2023 (November 2023)
- Doing and growing the work of mathematics leadership in schools (Keynote and workshop presentation): Diocese of Sandhurst Catholic Education (2022)
- Connecting and building relationships with school communities through mathematics education:
- An Equity Pathways and MTLC mathematics leadership initiative (Invited presentation): Equity@ ACU Symposium (2022)
- Teaching place value in the primary years (Keynote presentation): Diocese of Rockhampton Catholic Education (2022)
- Using professional learning protocols in mathematics leadership (Keynote presentation): Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education (2022)
- Exploring greater visualisation opportunities in mathematics teaching (Workshop presentation): Australian Maths Teachers Online Conference (January 2022)
- Various topics including Planning for Mathematics Leadership Success, Teaching Counting and Place Value in the Early Years; Teaching Geometry in the Primary Years, Teaching Probability and Statistics in the Primary Years: Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET): Primary Mathematics and Science Specialists (PMSS) Initiative (May, July, August 2019; February 2020; November 2021; July, November 2022)
- Going beyond answers: Focusing on convincing self and others in mathematics lessons (Workshop presentation): Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA) conference: Teachers' Day (June 2019)
- Being a mathematics leader in your school (Keynote presentation): Mathematics Teaching and Learning Centre (MTLC) conference: 1st National Conference for School Leaders in Mathematics Education (July 2014)
- Looking back to look forward (Keynote presentation): Mathematics Teaching and Learning Centre (MTLC) conference: 20th Annual Primary and Secondary Teachers' Mathematics Conference (December 2016)
- The hope of mathematics teaching (Keynote presentation): Mathematical Association of Victoria (MAV) conference: 53rd annual MAV conference Maths Explosion 2016 (December 2016)
