Gigi Carunungan

K-12 Learning Ecosystem Education Leader, Designer, & Author

Gigi Carunungan is an education leader with over 30 years of experience designing innovative learning environments. She co-founded and led the learning design of two Silicon Valley K-8 schools: Synapse School and Imagination School. Her integrated, thematic, and hands-on curricula have empowered students to thrive academically and personally, with Synapse School students exceeding national norms on their first standardized tests.

As the inventor of the Helical Model™, Gigi created a constructivist learning system grounded in neuroscience. This system guides students through five stages of learning: play, explore, connect, imagine, and remember. This model emphasizes analytical, creative, and hands-on experiences, fostering joy and a passion for learning while connecting classroom activities to real-world solutions.

Gigi was the Chief Learning Architect of Playnovate STEAM Learning Lab and CEO of MathXplorers, which won the 2024-2025 IBPA Innovation Award. Her upcoming book, Teaching with Math Stories, will be published by Columbia University’s Teachers College Press.

Gigi holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from San Jose State University and remains dedicated to transforming education to nurture students’ potential.