For Steve Wyborney, teaching runs in the family. Both of his parents were teachers, but when he first went to college, he was determined to forge a different path. That changed after earning an English degree and realizing that what he truly wanted was to teach. Over the years, he taught across multiple elementary grades and was even named Oregon Teacher of the Year in 2005. Later, he became a K–12 math coach, traveling between schools to support teachers with classroom strategies.

But teaching isn’t known for being an easy career path. Teachers have to manage constant change, operate on shoestring budgets, and are all too often disconnected from one another.

And so, a blog was born. Steve saw that by sharing his ideas and creating ready-to-use materials, he could help teachers save time, feel supported, and bring joy back into math classrooms.

A Global Resource

At first, Steve’s blog was simply a space to process his ideas and affirm what he believed to be the bedrock of his teaching philosophy: that young people have incredible potential. But soon, the blog became more than a personal project. It became a way for him to connect with teachers everywhere. While Steve was busy teaching and coaching in his local school district, his blog could travel the world.

Scaling the Mission

As the blog evolved, Steve began offering downloadable math resources—simple but powerful tools that teachers could use to plan their curricula. The response was overwhelming. Within just a few years, Steve logged millions of downloads from more than 100 different countries. His inbox was filled with notes of gratitude and accounts of amazing success stories. Steve was helping to spread math joy.

Even when financial and tech challenges nearly forced him to shut the blog down, Steve found ways to keep it going through ads and a modest online store. But it was increasingly burdensome to run, slow to load, and clunky to navigate. He knew teachers wouldn’t stick around if the experience was frustrating, no matter how valuable the resources were. Then, at a conference for online creators, he met Ryan from Maple, and their missions quickly aligned.

From Solo Creator to Shared Success

Ryan helped optimize Steve’s site so that it loaded smoothly and showcased resources in a way teachers could easily access. That technical support transformed the blog into an effective, reliable tool that teachers could return to again and again.

For Steve, Maple’s impact went beyond site speed. It ensured that his mission—to spread math joy and save teachers time—wasn’t held back by endless tech problems. The upgrades unlocked its potential to connect with teachers all over the world.

Today, it remains a vibrant hub for teachers looking for ways to bring energy and excitement into their math classrooms.

Connection That Multiplies

At its heart, Steve’s work has always been about connection. From his blog community to a 52,000-person email list, he has built relationships with teachers not as faceless data points, but as real people carrying the weight of a demanding profession. Through his writing, he offers encouragement, solidarity, and practical tools.

Equally central is Steve’s commitment to math joy. He believes math should never be a silent, solitary exercise. Instead, it should be rich with conversation and discovery. His resources are designed to spark moments of wonder—moments where students and teachers alike remember that math is playful, surprising, and deeply human.