Amber Candela

Amber Candela is an Associate Professor at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, affiliated with the Department of Educator Preparation and Leadership within the College of Education. Her career spans teaching mathematics in middle schools, graduate studies in mathematics education, and academic roles focusing on teacher development. She holds a PhD from the University of Georgia, an MA from Appalachian State University, and a BA from St. Bonaventure University.

Education:

• PhD in Mathematics Teacher Education, University of Georgia (2010–2014)
• MA in Mathematics Education, App State University (2005–2007)
• BA in Mathematics, St. Bonaventure University (1999–2003)

Research Focus: Dr. Candela specializes in mathematics education, particularly the professional development of teachers and the implementation of high-cognitive demand tasks. Her work emphasizes observational protocols to improve instructional practices and teacher training across preservice and inservice contexts. Recent research explores modalities of lesson observation (live vs. video) and algebra teaching quality through integrated observation frameworks.

Teaching & Service: She designs methods courses for elementary and secondary math teachers and maintains an active presence in academic communities via Google Scholar, LinkedIn, and a personal webpage. Her professional experience includes roles as a mathematics teacher and graduate assistant in NYC and Georgia.