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District adopts Amplify Desmos in secondary math; expands PD and tiered instruction plans
Summary
District leaders described multi-year secondary math work: selecting Amplify Desmos as a new instructional resource, ongoing professional development across grades 6–12, plans to add geometry and Algebra II to the new resource roll-out next year, and forthcoming work on tier 2 instruction and course pathways.
Crystal Hinchman, director of curriculum and instruction, provided a multi-year update on secondary math work, including resource selection, professional development and next steps for supporting students who struggle in math.
Hinckman (Crystal) told the board the district concluded a multi-year review and, after teacher committees and two-and-a-half days of evaluation work last year, selected Amplify Desmos as the new resource for secondary math. The district implemented the resource this school year with sixth, seventh, eighth- and Algebra I teachers; geometry and Algebra II are scheduled for rollout in the fall.
Staff described an intensive professional development schedule: principals and teachers participated in joint PD sessions on staff days and teachers received pre-unit PD (“unpack the unit”) before instruction began. Hinchman said the district provided “19 and a half” PD days for secondary math teachers this year to prepare units and assessments. Instructional coaches modeled lessons and principals joined training sessions to support classroom observations and feedback.
Hinckman said next steps include deeper professional development on tier 2 instruction (in-class supports and small-group approaches for students who need reteaching), continuing principal coaching around observations and feedback, and redesigning high-school course pathways to align math courses with postsecondary goals (including possible additions such as mathematical modeling and data science courses). She also explained the elementary-level timeline was adjusted because literacy training under Act 20 has been prioritized; conversations about elementary math resources may resume in spring 2026.
Board members asked for clarifications about tiers of instruction; Hinchman explained tier 1 as core instruction for all students, tier 2 as additional in-class small-group supports, and tier 3 as more intensive interventions.
