Pequannock board hears report on Conquer Math training; members press for student-data evidence

At the May 27 Pequannock Township School District Board of Education meeting, district staff presented details of an ongoing professional-development program called Conquer Math that two teacher cohorts are completing and another cohort is beginning this coming year.

Mister Murata, supervisor of the Allied Health Academy at Pequannock High School, told the board the district formed two cohorts and "we have a total of 40 or so teachers who go." He described the workshops as hands-on and grade-level specific, led by consultant Nancy Schultz, and said teachers attend roughly "4 to 5" workshops per year for their grade-level domain.

The district provided survey results to the board. According to the presentation, 96% of responding teachers said the workshops enhanced their understanding of grade-level standards; more than 60% reported they had already begun integrating new strategies into classrooms; about 30% said they were ready to "turnkey" and share practices with colleagues.

Why this matters: district leaders said Conquer Math is intended to improve math instruction across K–12 and to support the district’s required integration of revised state math standards by this September. Board members pressed staff for concrete evidence that classroom changes are improving student outcomes beyond teacher satisfaction.

Board members asked multiple questions about assessment and measurement. "60% doesn't excite me," board member Danielle said during discussion, pressing staff to explain how the district would raise the share of teachers actively using new practices. District staff and administrators pointed to several approaches: using local benchmarks and common assessments year to year, targeted walkthroughs and alternate observations, small action plans for teacher teams, and curricular pacing changes informed by workshop learning.

Staff described how Conquer Math materials pair with existing programs. Murata said the workshops complement the district's I-Ready core program at the elementary level and that some high-school teachers attend algebra- and geometry-focused workshops. Administrators said they are piloting I-Ready diagnostics in some 8th-grade and high-school honors classes and that LinkIt serves as the district's data warehouse for benchmark information.

The presentation also covered next steps staff will pursue: evaluating pacing and scope-and-sequence documents, drafting guidance documents teachers can follow (particularly useful for new teachers and substitute coverage), exploring universal K–2 screeners for math, and considering a third cohort depending on funding.

District staff acknowledged limitations in available screeners for math and said they are still reviewing options; one administrator said many commercial screeners do not probe the granular skills teachers need and that the district may develop its own instruments.

Board members and administrators described pockets of curriculum change already implemented at grade and course levels where it made sense immediately; other revisions will require a longer rewrite and collaboration across grade bands. Administrators estimated the PD will be a multi-year effort to reach broad, sustained classroom change.

The presentation concluded with board appreciation for teacher confidence gains and a request for staff to return with analysis tying Conquer Math implementation to specific student-assessment indicators.

The district provided the Conquer Math update as an informational presentation; no board vote was required.