Laura Overdeck
{{short description|American math education entrepreneur}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Laura Overdeck
|birth_name = Laura Anne Bilodeau
|birth_date =
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Republican
|spouse = {{marriage|John Overdeck|2002|2022|end=sep}}
|children = 3
|education = Princeton University (BS)
University of Pennsylvania (MBA)
}}
Laura Overdeck (née Bilodeau) is an American education reformer, author and movie producer. Overdeck is the founder and president of the Bedtime Math Foundation, a nonprofit that helps parents teach their kids math in fun, recreational ways through a free app.{{cite web |title=Bedtime Math Foundation |url=https://bedtimemath.org/ |access-date=5 February 2025 |website=Bedtime Math}} She also authored a book series entitled Bedtime Math published by MacMillan.{{Cite web |last=Laura |first=OVERDECK |title=Bedtime Math 2: This Time It |url=https://www.slj.com/review/bedtime-math-2-this-time-its-personal |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=School Library Journal}} Overdeck is the producer of the movie Rule Breakers, the inspiring story of the first all-girls robotics team in Afghanistan.{{Cite web |last=Wiseman |first=Andreas |date=2024-10-29 |title='Sound Of Freedom' Outfit Angel Studios Picks Up Nikohl Boosheri & Ali Fazal Movie 'Rule Breakers' About Afghanistan's First All-Female Robotics Team; Phoebe Waller-Bridge Joins Cast |url=https://deadline.com/2024/10/sound-of-freedom-angel-studios-picks-up-nikohl-boosheri-ali-fazal-movie-rule-breakers-afghanistan-1236160879/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.angel.com/movies/rule-breakers |title=Rule Breakers (2025) {{!}} Official Website {{!}} In Theaters March 2025 |language=en |access-date=2025-02-05 |via=www.angel.com}} In her role on the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund, she launched the New Jersey Tutoring Corps{{Cite web |last=Bergeron |first=Tom |date=2021-04-20 |title=Classroom catchup: Why Overdeck hopes tutoring program is just start of new ways of learning |url=https://www.roi-nj.com/2021/04/20/education/classroom-catchup-why-overdeck-hopes-tutoring-program-is-just-start-of-new-ways-of-learning/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=ROI-NJ |language=en-US}} to address learning loss during the COVID pandemic. The Tutoring Corps continues to function today as a standalone nonprofit operating statewide at 80 sites.{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} NJ Tutoring Corps - In Person Tutoring - NJTC |url=https://njtutoringcorps.org/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250114150500/https://njtutoringcorps.org/ |archive-date=2025-01-14 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=New Jersey Tutoring Corps |language=en-US}}
Early life and education
Overdeck is the daughter of Emily and Gilbert R. Bilodeau of Westfield, New Jersey.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/13/style/weddings-celebrations-laura-bilodeau-john-overdeck.html|title=WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS; Laura Bilodeau, John Overdeck|date=13 October 2002|website=The New York Times}} She graduated from Westfield High School in 1987, where she was valedictorian of her class.Wildstein, David. [https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/who-would-be-ciattarellis-running-mate-heres-a-possible-short-list/ "Who could be Ciattarelli’s running mate? Here’s a possible short list"], New Jersey Globe, May 4, 2021. Accessed May 1, 2025. "The wife of a hedge fund manager — Forbes estimated his net worth at $6.5 billion – Overdeck comes to the table with her own qualifications: she was valedictorian at Westfield High School, received a degree in astrophysical science from Princeton, and an MBA from Wharton." She was also selected for and participated in the New Jersey Governor's School in the Sciences.{{cite news |title=44 Receive Diplomas At WHS Commencement |url=http://www.digifind-it.com/westfield/leader/1987/1987-06-25.pdf |access-date=4 November 2019 |publisher=The Westfield Leader |date=25 June 1987}}{{cite web |title=Top high school students study science at annual Governor's School |url=https://nj.gov/govschool/documents/130805%20Top%20high%20school%20students%20study%20science%20at%20annual%20Governor.pdf}}
Overdeck went on to earn a bachelor's degree in astrophysical sciences from Princeton University.{{cite web |title=Board of Trustees, 2019-20 {{!}} Office of the President |url=https://president.princeton.edu/vice-president-and-secretary/board-trustees/current-trustees |website=president.princeton.edu}}
She also holds a master's degree in business administration from the Wharton School, and an honorary doctorate in engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology.{{cite web |title=Laura Overdeck, Math Education Reformer and Philanthropist, to Speak at Stevens 147th Commencement |url=https://www.stevens.edu/news/laura-overdeck-math-education-reformer-and-philanthropist-speak-stevens-147th-commencement |website=Stevens Institute of Technology |date=15 March 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Schmidt |first1=Margaret |title=ICYMI: Stevens Institute of Technology sends off the Class of 2019 (Photos) |url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/2019/05/icymi-stevens-institute-of-technology-sends-off-the-class-of-2019-photos.html |website=nj |language=en |date=29 May 2019}}
Career
After completing her education, Overdeck held positions at D.E. Shaw & Co. and at Stanford Research Institute.
Overdeck founded the nonprofit Bedtime Math in 2012, sending out playful nightly math posts for children to solve with their parents. The blog received early critical acclaim, and the following year she published Bedtime Math: A Fun Excuse to Stay Up Late, her first of four books with Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.{{cite web |last1=Dell’Antonia |first1=Kj |title=Goodnight, Moon. Goodnight, Math Problem. |url=https://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/goodnight-moon-goodnight-math-problem/ |website=Motherlode Blog |date=10 April 2012}}{{cite web |title=N.J. Mom Puts Kids To Bed With Math |url=https://www.npr.org/2012/07/31/157637444/n-j-mom-puts-kids-to-bed-with-math?ft=1&f=157637444?ft=1&f=157637444 |website=NPR.org |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Macmillan: Series: Bedtime Math Series |url=https://us.macmillan.com/series/bedtimemathseries/ |website=US Macmillan}}{{cite book |title=How Many Guinea Pigs Can Fit on a Plane?: Answers to Your Most Clever Math Questions |isbn=978-1250123688 |last1=Overdeck |first1=Laura |date=6 June 2017 |publisher=Feiwel & Friends }}
In 2021, she received Mathical Honors for Bedtime Math: This Time It’s Personal.{{Cite news|title=Mathical Book Prizes 2021|url=https://www.mathicalbooks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Mathical_Booklist_Web_2021.pdf}} Subsequently, the Bedtime Math team created an app version of the offering; University of Chicago researchers found that app usage increased children's math skills by an extra three months in one school year, publishing the results in Science.{{cite web |last1=Cho |first1=Adrian |title=Bedtime problems boost kids' math performance |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/bedtime-problems-boost-kids-math-performance?rss=1 |website=Science {{!}} AAAS |language=en |date=8 October 2015}}
Overdeck has published opinion pieces on children's math education in TIME Magazine, Huffington Post, USA Today, the Houston Chronicle, and Quartz.{{cite magazine |title=How to Help Your Kids Get Excited About Math |url=https://time.com/4786605/how-to-get-kids-excited-about-math/ |magazine=Time |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Top 11 Reasons Kids Need To Learn Math |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/reasons-kids-need-to-learn-math_b_3510398 |website=HuffPost |date=28 June 2013}}{{cite web |last1=Overdeck |first1=Laura |title=Moms, make kids more 'mathletic': Column |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/05/10/laura-overdeck-moms-math/8761387/ |website=USA TODAY}}{{cite web |title=Overdeck: Rethinking what's possible when it comes to learning math |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/Overdeck-Rethinking-what-s-possible-when-it-5348417.php |website=HoustonChronicle.com |date=25 March 2014 |last1=Overdeck |first1=Laura }}{{cite web |last1=Overdeck |first1=Laura |title=Don't just read to your kids at night, do math with them, too. They'll thank you later |url=https://qz.com/328530/dont-just-read-to-your-kids-at-night-make-them-do-math-theyll-thank-you-later/ |website=Quartz |date=23 January 2015 |language=en}}
Overdeck serves as a trustee at Princeton University and is vice chair of the board of trustees at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey.
She also serves on the advisory boards of the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth and Khan Academy{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}}.{{cite web |title=Search Committee {{!}} Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth |url=https://cty.jhu.edu/director-search/search-committee.html |website=cty.jhu.edu |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Khan Academy |url=https://www.khanacademy.org/about/our-board |website=Khan Academy |language=en}}
=Awards=
Overdeck was named Educator of the Year by the New Jersey R & D Council in 2017.{{cite web |title=The Research & Development Council of NJ Recognizes 2017 Edison Award Winners & Honorees |url=https://njsecretaryhighereducation.com/2017/12/01/dec2017-princeton1/ |language=en |date=1 December 2017}}{{cite web |title=38th Edison Patent Award Celebration Honoree Tribute Films |url=http://www.rdnj.org/awards-recognitions/2017-edison-patent-award-winners/38th-edison-patent-award-celebration-honoree-tribute-films/ |website=The Research & Development Council of New Jersey}}
In 2019 she was the commencement speaker at Stevens Institute of Technology, where she also received an honorary doctorate.
Philanthropy
In 2011, Overdeck and her husband established the Overdeck Family Foundation, an organization that funds educational research and STEM education.{{cite news|last1=Flowers|first1=Matt|title=South Jersey looks to improve STEM ed|url=http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/local/south-jersey/2016/10/13/south-jersey-looks-improve-stem-ed/91936758/|access-date=8 May 2017|publisher=Courier Post Online|date=October 13, 2016}}{{cite web|title=Meet the Overdecks|url=http://overdeck.org/meet-the-overdecks/|website=Overdeck Family Foundation|access-date=8 May 2017}}{{cite web|title=John Overdeck|url=https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/wall-street-donors/john-overdeck.html|website=Inside Philanthropy|access-date=8 May 2017}}
The foundation's overall goal is to enable all American children to unlock their potential by strengthening learning in and out of school.{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Leslie |title=Wilson School fund established for education research |url=http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2018/10/overdeck-education-innovation-fund |access-date=16 October 2018 |newspaper=Daily Princetonian |date=October 9, 2018}}
The Overdecks’ education philanthropy focuses on four key issue areas: “early impact,” “exceptional educators,” “innovative schools,” and “inspired minds.”
They have made gifts to Robin Hood Foundation for work by MDRC to study the long-term effects of various early childhood programs. The Overdecks have also supported the Harlem Children's Zone with its early impact strategy and the Khan Academy.
Other grantees have included the NJ STEM Teaching Fellowship, and Governor's School for the Sciences at Drew University in New Jersey.{{cite web |title=Kean University grads among 2015 Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Winners |url=https://www.nj.com/suburbannews/2015/08/kean_university_grads_among_20.html |website=nj |language=en |date=5 August 2015}}
Overdeck is an alumna of Governor's School and was instrumental in saving the program through private donations in 2006.{{cite web |title=Hoping for a Strong Comeback, Governor's Schools Prep for 2013 |url=https://www.njspotlight.com/2012/12/12-12-02-hoping-for-a-strong-comeback-governor-s-schools-prep-for-2013/ |website=NJ Spotlight |date=3 December 2012}}
In October 2018, The Overdeck Education Innovation Fund gifted $1 million to be distributed over the next three years by the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs for research on education issues. This is the second gift from the Overdeck Family Foundation, the first of which was $1 million donated in 2016.
That same month, the Overdeck Family Foundation pledged $3 million to Opportunity Insights, a policy and research institute based at Harvard University that will publish data on the probability that children will escape poverty based on where they were raised.{{cite web|url=https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2018/10/4/behind-a-new-institute-for-economic-mobility-powerful-data-and-billionaire-donors|title=Behind a New Institute for Economic Mobility: Powerful Data and Billionaire Donors|date=5 October 2018 |publisher=}}{{cite web|url=https://thejournal.com/articles/2018/11/05/detailed-picture-of-inequality-of-opportunity-emerges.aspx|title=Detailed Picture of 'Inequality of Opportunity' Emerges -|first1=Dian|last1=Schaffhauser|date=2018-05-18|website=THE Journal}}{{cite web|url=https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Grants-Roundup-Duke/244751|title=Grants Roundup: Duke University's Environmental School Receives $20 Million Grant|date=10 October 2018|publisher=}}
In early 2024, Overdeck co-founded Wake Up Call NJ{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2025 |title=About us - Wake Up Call NJ |url=https://www.wakeupcallnj.com/about-us |url-status=live |access-date=May 1, 2025 |website=Wake Up Call NJ}} with former Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education, Peter Shulman.
Personal life
On October 12, 2002, Overdeck married John Overdeck, co-founder of Two Sigma Investments.
They live in Millburn, New Jersey, and have three children.{{cite news|url=https://patch.com/new-jersey/millburn/new-jerseys-billionaires-club-stands-6-members-2017|title=Meet New Jersey's 6 Billionaires In 2017|last1=Davis|first1=Tom|date=March 21, 2017|access-date=8 May 2017|publisher=Millburn Patch}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/john-overdeck/|title=Forbes profile: John Overdeck|work=Forbes|access-date=5 November 2018}} They started divorce proceedings in early 2022.{{Cite Q|Q121323487|access-date=2023-08-09}}
References
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Category:21st-century American women writers
Category:21st-century American writers
Category:American women bloggers
Category:American women philanthropists
Category:D. E. Shaw & Co. people
Category:People from Westfield, New Jersey
Category:Philanthropists from New Jersey
Category:Princeton University alumni
Category:SRI International people
Category:Westfield High School (New Jersey) alumni
Category:Wharton School alumni
Category:Writers from Millburn, New Jersey