The Story
In the spring of 2011, Sean Hookano-Briel and Daniel Nash began redesigning the way high school mathematics could be taught and learned in their Hawai'i Title 1 (economically disadvantaged) public school classrooms. Their journey not only led to a US Provisional Patent for Curriculum Design, but an extraordinary pedagogical shift that actually taught students how to teach themselves without the use of traditional lecturing. This shift in their day to day lessons significantly increased student achievement by over 30% and, in some classes, led to a perfect 100% pass rate. Since then they trained Educators domestically and internationally as well as created a second U.S. Provisional Patent, for Knowledge Transfer, that has been utilized in the Oil and Gas Industry to accelerate competencies of project managers in large capital projects.
The How
Sean and Dan organically formulated DCT's process by melding ideas from cognitive science, educational psychology, mathematical pedagogy, a combined decade of teaching experience, and a bit of passion. By evolving their understanding of how people "learn," they were able to use this process to effectively and efficiently build student literacy, conceptual and applicative understanding of content, as well as problem solving strategies.
The Why
Ultimately, DCT is committed to empowering learners with more than just an understanding of how they learn, but an actual schema of how to effectively and efficiently accelerate competencies. By successfully teaching themselves, DCT's process enhances individual and collective capacities to creatively and critically innovate solutions to any problem.
Sean Hookano-Briel
Chief Executive Officer
Sean Hookano-Briel is currently the Chief Executive Officer of DCT: Developing Critical Thinkers LLC, where he usually can be found collaborating on innovative curriculum and engaging teachers to design creative solutions in eduction. After studying Accounting and Philosophy at Southern Methodist University, Sean jumped at the opportunity to relocate and teach high school mathematics in Hawai'i with Teach for America. For the following 6 years he directly lead and drove change with over 1,200 economically disadvantaged students, obtained a Masters in Education, and developed a winning Varsity soccer program as Head Coach.
Daniel Nash
Chief Operating Officer
Daniel Nash is currently the Chief Operating Officer of DCT: Developing Critical Thinkers and works training teachers and developing innovative curriculum. After studying mathematics at Michigan State University he went on to teach high school mathematics in Hawai’i. While teaching with DCT Co-Founder, Sean Briel, he co-developed a curriculum that taught students how to teach themselves.
Daniel holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Michigan State University, a Teaching Assistant position with Michigan State University's Department of Mathematics, Committee member with Michigan State University Mathematics Undergraduate Studies Committee, as well as published second author with Michigan State University Biological Mathematics Research Program.
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Besides working in education, Daniel is passionate about the procuring, sharing, and application of knowledge to better understand the world around us as well as the Human Condition. In his free time he enjoys backpacking adventures, traveling and learning about cultures around the globe, and watching anything made by Guillermo del Toro.
Sean holds a MedT in Secondary Mathematics from University of Hawai'i at Manoa, a B.B.A in Accounting and a minor in Philosophy from Southern Methodist University, as well as a Hawai'i State Teachers Standards Board License and a National Highly Qualified Status.
When Sean is not disrupting learning paradigms within education and enterprise, he is spending his time with the three loves of his life: his wife, the ocean (surfing, free diving, and kayak fishing), and the kitchen (preparing the catch of the day).