Falkenstein (née Falkova) Elina (6 November 1937, Riga) — Doctor of Pedagogy, mathematics teacher, and a devoted promoter of Jewish educational traditions in Latvia.
Elina Falkenstein received her secondary education at Riga Secondary Schools No. 12 and No. 13. In 1945, she entered the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of the Riga Pedagogical Institute. She later transferred to the same faculty at the Latvian State University, graduating in 1959 with a diploma as a mathematics teacher.
She worked as a mathematics teacher and deputy director in several Riga eight-year and secondary schools (Nos. 79, 7, 48, 23). From 1968, she was a methodologist at the Institute for Teacher Training Improvement and head of the mathematics department. She delivered lectures not only at the institute but throughout Latvia.
From 1970 to 1973, she pursued full-time postgraduate studies at the Latvian State University in the Department of Algebra and Geometry. In 1975, she defended her dissertation titled “On the Teaching of Geometric Transformations in the Geometry Course of the Eight-Year School.”
After receiving the degree of Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, she continued to combine teaching practice with scientific and methodological work. In 1976, she became a mathematics methodologist at the City Department of Public Education, and from 1986 — methodologist and lecturer at the Republican Institute for Teacher Training Improvement of the Latvian SSR.
In 1988, for the first time in Latvia and the USSR, Elina Falkenstein co-authored the concept of a unique project — a mathematics examination based on differentiated levels of achievement requirements.
From 1990, she taught mathematics at the Riga Jewish School, where she also served as Deputy Director for Academic Affairs from 1990 to 1995. In 1991, she completed training and received certification from the Samuel Mendel Melton Centre for Jewish Education in the Diaspora.
In 1992, she participated in developing mathematics education standards. She was a board member of the Latvian Association of Mathematics Teachers and head of the methodological commission for natural sciences and mathematics teachers at the Ministry of Education of Latvia.
In 2007, the Correspondence Mathematics School of the University of Latvia was awarded a commemorative sign for its significant contribution to the development and support of mathematics Olympiads in Latvia.
She was publishing since 1972 and participated in numerous conferences and seminars across the post-Soviet space, as well as in the United Kingdom and Israel.
Works:
• Methods of Solving Mathematical Problems (“Matemātikas uzdevumu risināšanas paņēmieni”), Riga: Zvaigzne, 1984 (with co-authors A. Grava, Ē. Pekarēvičs, S. Trupins)
• Geometry for Grades 7–9 (“Geomētrija 7—9 klasei”), Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 1992–1997 (with A. Andžāns)
• Geometry Textbook for Grades 7–9 (“Учебник по геометрии. 7–9 кл.”), Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 1992–1997 (with A. Andžāns)