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District outlines math curriculum rollout, adds 'math strategist' role and assessment plan
Summary
District staff described the K'5 adoption of Eureka Math Squared, middle-grade use of Amplify/Desmos, a new math-strategist teacher-leader in each elementary building (~0.167 FTE / 3'4 hours/week), and a mix of formative and common benchmark assessments. Committee members pressed for clearer monitoring, more coaching time and a staffing analysis ahead of the next budget cycle.
District curriculum leaders reviewed the math curriculum rollout and the supports the district is deploying to promote a consistent K'8 student experience.
Katarina Nichols, who identified herself as a math teacher leader for K'8, said the district is in its third year of using Eureka Math Squared at the elementary level and its second year using Amplify/Desmos in grades 6'8. She described supplemental tools (First in Math, IXL, Zearn), a pacing guide with module dates, and caregiver-facing "family map" pages that explain weekly learning and include low- or no-material at-home activities.
Nichols outlined the math strategist model: each elementary building has one math strategist who carries a full teaching load plus a 0.167 FTE allocation for strategist duties (about three to four additional hours per week). Strategists meet monthly, run turnkey professional development, support peer observations, and lead grade-level work to promote vertical alignment and shared practices across the eight elementary schools.
On assessment, presenters described multiple layers: pre-module quick checks, daily exit tickets and topic quizzes, module/unit assessments, performance tasks intended for discourse rather than formal grading, and district benchmarks given three times per year for grades 1'5. The district also piloted MCAS math tools as a curriculum-agnostic benchmark option that includes kindergarten assessments.
Committee members raised implementation questions: how the district will monitor whether teachers complete pacing modules, how consistent caregiver distribution of materials is across buildings, and whether three to four hours is sufficient for strategist duties. A committee member said: "If I know what's supposed to happen and when, that helps me and helps the teacher." Nichols said the strategist role is new this year, acknowledged staffing and budget constraints, and recommended an analysis of current initiatives and any additional positions needed for sustainability.
The committee requested a follow-up analysis of staffing needs and costs before the next budget cycle so board and finance committees can weigh potential investments in instructional coaching.
