Michelle Ang graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Science (Merit) degree in Mathematics with Management Science and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from NIE, specialising in Mathematics and Music.
Prior to joining SOTA, Michelle taught at Chung Cheng High (Main) for many years. She served as a teacher mentor for beginning teachers in Mathematics and Music, and has received several Excellent Mentorship Award from NIE. She also served on the working committee for the East Zone Centre of Excellence for Creative Arts (Music) and coordinated the school’s Creative Arts Programme, teaching the Dance module. Michelle has also been a level mentor, supporting the well-being of students. Her various contributions were recognised with MOE Service Excellence Awards in 2013, 2018, 2019, and 2022.
In 2021, Michelle head the Aesthetics and Craft Department, overseeing Music, Art, Design and Technology, and Food Consumer Science Units. Concurrently, she led the Arts Education Committee, organising major Arts events and the Lim Tze Peng Art Prize competitions and exhibitions. She partnered with external Arts organisations at Goodman Arts Centre to curate workshops and learning journeys for students’ holistic development. Her deep passion in Arts education earned her the Outstanding Contribution Award (Individual) and she has received the National Day Award (Commendation Medal) from the Education Minister in 2024.
Michelle dived deeper into teaching pedagogies and was appointed Senior Teacher (Mathematics) subsequently, supporting the department in questioning technique to develop students’ critical thinking skills. She also served on the Staff Development Committee and contributed to various professional development initiatives. Michelle integrates Arts-based approaches into Mathematics teaching, including Art gallery-based Trigonometry lessons, explorations of the Fibonacci sequence through sunflower sketches, and designed various hands-on tools to support visual and kinesthetic learners.
Michelle’s love for the arts was developed from a young age through her co-curricular activities. Despite teaching full-time, she auditioned as a Dance Scholar with ECNAD (Singapore’s pioneering contemporary dance company) where she took intensive evening classes in contemporary dance and improvisation under the tutelage of various dance practitioners including Mr Lim Chin Huat and Ms Susan Yeung. She also performed with the dance company on various occasions as a dancer and contributed to music composition. Michelle is also part of Reitokukai, a Japanese Classical Dance group and has performed with the team in Tokyo and Singapore. As a certified Pilates trainer (mat work), she has created exercise videos to support students’ well-being.
Committed to lifelong learning, Michelle continues to dance, attend concerts, and stay engaged with developments in Singapore’s Arts scene. She enjoys reading books that support students’ learning and believes that the arts have helped her to see the beauty of mathematics. She hopes that through her interactions with SOTA students, they will also develop a strong love and passion for mathematics and the arts.