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In the educational African centered powerhouse known as Sankofa Shule in Lansing, MI, a powerful educational initiative was born from the genius of Dr. Freya A. Rivers. The year was 1997, and Assata Moore, a passionate and visionary new teacher under the wing of Dr. Rivers, perceived the profound need for an educational approach that would redefine how math was taught to Black students, an approach that would celebrate their rich heritage and genius.
Thus, the “African Mathematical Genius” program was conceived. As an engineering student and volunteer at the school she was teaching her students advanced math concepts, coding, physics, and engineering design. From this experience, she quickly realized the genius in children as they were picking up quickly on these concepts as elementary students.
As time flowed, the program evolved, gathering momentum and impact. In 2020, the program was renamed “Black Math Genius.”
However, the journey of transformation didn’t stop there. Recognizing the broader ambition of the initiative and its overarching mission to revolutionize how all students, irrespective of their backgrounds, approached and mastered mathematics, in 2023, it was given its current and most encompassing name: “Moore Math Geniuses.”
Assata started teaching at the age of eighteen! In February of 2017, at the age of forty-one, she retired from her district level position at the University of Chicago’s Urban Education Institute. Prior to that position, Assata spent five years as a high school principal where she brought a school from red to green in terms of education, staff morale, and budget on the 5 Essential Supports. As a teacher and principal, she traveled the world teaching other teachers how to teach mathematics, physics, and engineering in a fun and engaging way; effective leadership; and systems and strategies for running a successful school.
She has a mathematics degree from Michigan State University where she also served as the program coordinator. In 2009, she was voted one of the top mathematics teachers in the state of Illinois. In 2015, she was invited by First Lady Michelle Obama to the White House with two of her students because of her school’s college persistence rating.
In 2020 she converted her years of lessons and first mathematics book entitled, “African Mathematical Genius” into an online course, virtual tutoring, that would become known as “Black Math Genius”. As the CEO of Moore Math Geniuses, Assata and her team work with schools and districts across the country to train their teachers in math content and pedagogy.
To address the systemic educational gaps faced by Black students by offering transformative math education that integrates deep conceptual understanding, historical context, and real-world application. Through our intentional focus on the true origins of mathematics and its contemporary significance, we strive to boost students’ confidence, equip them with the skills for high-demand careers, and instill a lasting belief in their innate genius.
Empowering the next generation with the mathematical skills and historical knowledge to confidently build their futures, rooted in a deep understanding of their ancestral mathematical achievements and potential.
