District math director reports new curricula and coaching, aims to boost problem solving from K‑12

District math leadership presented curriculum and professional‑development updates to the committee March 3, outlining classroom practices designed to increase student discourse, problem solving and math engagement from kindergarten through high school.

Dr. Kelly Boudinis, who leads the math program, summarized new and expanded work including a districtwide kindergarten initiative called Number Corner, implementation of the Illustrative Math curriculum in middle school, and coaching for elementary teachers on progress monitoring and high‑leverage concepts for intervention. “We start each lesson with what we call a low floor, high ceiling question,” Boudinis said, describing a starter prompt that allows all students to participate and then builds to more challenging reasoning.

Boudinis said district coaches and external partners have conducted training on specialized math instruction and building thinking classrooms; she added that the district is evaluating high‑school curriculum options and seeking a sustainable in‑house approach to professional development. She also said budget cuts reduced one building‑level math coach and that teachers have adjusted by deepening collaboration, but she described that loss as a reduction in “glue” between buildings.

Committee members asked about teacher capacity and the impact of that coach reduction; Boudinis said teachers are collaborating but the district is monitoring needs and offering additional summer training. No formal action was taken; the presentation served as an update and planning discussion.