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Kenmore-Tonawanda highlights Eureka Math Squared pilot and district curriculum updates
Summary
Franklin Elementary staff showed trustee several classroom strategies and one-year assessment gains after adopting Eureka Math Squared; district leaders described parallel literacy work and K–12 curriculum reviews that include phonics training and expanded professional development.
Franklin Elementary Principal Kia Evans and a team of classroom teachers presented the board with classroom demonstrations and early assessment results tied to the district’s adoption of Eureka Math Squared.
Jen Zabalski, a third-grade teacher who piloted the program, said, “This program is a lot more engaging and it gets the children to really think and actually have to explain their answers to questions.” The presentation included a student activity and a short group exercise showing how teachers use number stories and collaborative work to build conceptual understanding.
District slides shown to the board reported measurable short‑term gains at Franklin. Mary Canale, an elementary teacher on the team, said grade 3 proficiency rose “from 22% proficient in ’21–’22 to 36% proficient in ’23–’24,” and that grade 4 improved from 26% to 48% across the same span; presenters described a cohort improvement of about 21 percentage points between consecutive years. Presenters attributed those gains in part to the new math curriculum combined with targeted professional development and classroom coaching, while noting other factors also contribute to growth.
Assistant Superintendent White and curriculum specialists used the presentation to place the Franklin results in a districtwide context: K–2 teachers completed comprehensive phonics training and the district has begun using UFLY/You Fly Foundations in early grades; Eureka Math Squared has moved from pilot classrooms into broader elementary implementation; and the district has added tools such as Math FactLab to boost fact fluency. Secondary teams highlighted work on a district writing strategy, portfolio assessments, and supplemental tools for vocabulary and reading fluency.
Board members thanked teachers for a recent school visit and the evident student engagement. The presentation closed with discussion of next steps for data monitoring, assessment alignment, and continuing professional learning for teachers across the district.
The board did not take any additional formal action on curriculum at this meeting; the broader rollout and related training were presented as updates and planning items.
