Caren Holtzman

Caren Holtzman is a Faculty Chair and Lecturer in the Department of Education Sciences at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). She directs the Partners At Learning (PAL) Program and the UCSD Artsbridge Program, collaborating extensively with UCSD colleagues, local community colleges, P-12 schools, and community organizations. Her professional roles emphasize interdisciplinary education and community engagement.

Her educational background includes 10 years as a classroom teacher (grades 2-6) in the Oceanside Unified School District. She has also served as a Mathematics Consultant for Manhattan District #2 (NYC), contributed to California Department of Education math curriculum projects, and participated in the California Math Leadership Project. Her consulting experience includes work with Marilyn Burns Education Associates.

• Research Interests: Focus on integrating mathematics and visual arts education, curriculum design, service-learning methodologies, and K-12 educational practices. She also explores pedagogical strategies for teaching numerical literacy and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Caren is an author of children’s books (published by Scholastic) and co-authored textbooks such as Developing Number Sense and Mini Lessons for Math Practice. Her 2012 book Object Lessons highlights innovative methods to teach mathematics through the arts. Beyond publications, she has facilitated projects and grants at local, national, and international levels.

• Awards: UCSD Barbara and Paul Saltman Distinguished Teaching Award (2002).

In advising and grants, she coordinates initiatives and supports students in practicum and service-learning programs. Her leadership in the Artsbridge Program underscores her commitment to bridging arts and STEM education. She currently teaches EDS courses in service-learning, math pedagogy, and arts integration.

Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the UCSD Artsbridge Program, which promotes interdisciplinary arts education collaborations.