Warren principal urges play-based, restorative practices and pilots Illustrative Mathematics at RSU 40/MSAD 40 meeting

Justin Kangas, principal at Warren Community School, told the RSU 40/MSAD 40 board that Warren is shifting instruction away from rote memorization toward problem solving, play and relationship‑building, and is piloting the Illustrative Mathematics curriculum to support that shift.

Kangas opened his presentation by arguing that the purpose of school has changed as information has become widely available. "We wanna keep kids curious," he said, adding that the school’s chosen values are curiosity, empathy and responsibility. He described Illustrative Mathematics as a problem‑based approach that emphasizes discussion, multiple entry points to tasks and real‑world problem solving rather than memorizing procedures.

Why it matters: Kangas said the pilot has produced early teacher reports of increased student participation, confidence and peer discussion. He framed those practices as a response to workplace and technological changes that place a premium on creativity and collaboration rather than rote computation.

Teachers’…