In an interview conducted by Elene Lomia ’27, Middle School Math Teacher Aly Conway shared insights into her first year at TASIS. Conway, who joined the faculty in 2025, teaches seventh-grade mathematics and previously taught some eighth-grade classes. Beyond the classroom, she serves as an eighth-grade advisor, coaches the Varsity Girls Basketball team and the Junior Varsity Boys Soccer team, will lead a ninth-grade Academic Travel hiking trip to Cinque Terre, and co-leads the Acts of Kindness Service Learning group in grade six. Conway holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from Sonoma State University and a Master’s degree in Secondary Education with a focus on Foundational Mathematics from San Diego State University. Before arriving at TASIS, she worked for ten years at Sonoma Country Day School, where she was a middle school math teacher for eight years and dean of students for two years. She also worked as a data analyst while coaching high school basketball. Conway explained that her decision to become a teacher stemmed from her experience coaching basketball at age 24, when she realized how much she enjoyed mentoring young people. Her love for math began in childhood, fueled by puzzles and the clarity of finding concrete solutions. She chose middle school because she believes building a strong foundation at that age is critical, and she wants to ensure no student feels incapable of handling complex concepts. Conway’s transition to TASIS was driven by a desire for a new adventure and the opportunity to travel throughout Europe. She completed all her interviews over Zoom while living in California.
When asked what she enjoys most about teaching at TASIS, Conway highlighted the dynamic and loving community. She was surprised by how intelligent and dedicated her colleagues are, noting that they inspire her to become a better teacher. Unlike her previous experience at day schools, living alongside the community—sharing meals and interacting constantly with students and colleagues—makes every day rewarding. Conway also discussed how her background in basketball has shaped her teaching. Playing at a high level taught her leadership, work ethic, time management, and independent learning, especially when she missed classes for sports travel. She applies these lessons by focusing on individual student needs and fostering a collaborative classroom environment that mirrors a supportive team. She sees clear parallels between basketball and mathematics, including geometry, physics, pattern recognition, and decision-making under pressure. Both require multiple strategies, quick thinking, attention to detail, and reliance on teammates. Conway emphasized that strong fundamentals are key in both domains. For the current year, her professional goal is to create a positive, supportive environment where students leave her class confident in their math abilities and knowing they have built a strong relationship with her. Personally, she aims to keep trying new activities, such as tennis, padel, and swimming. Her advice to high school students is to take advantage of the many opportunities TASIS offers, emphasizing that the risk of trying something new is low and that self-discovery during these years will benefit them long after graduation. She encourages students to build the habit of trying new things without fear of failure.
