The Math is Mathing with Coach and Teacher Support

Jayuntay Williams, District Instructional Specialist for Acceleration Schools focusing on Mathematics.

What is your role as a Math District Instructional Specialist for Acceleration Schools?

I am Jayuntay Williams, District Instructional Specialist for Acceleration Schools focusing on mathematics.

What is your role as a Math District Instructional Specialist for Acceleration Schools?

As a math District Instructional Specialist, I directly support the work of school-based math coaches. This support includes but is not limited to, one-on-one coaching, classroom walkthrough observations and feedback, and professional development designed to build coaching and teacher capacity. This is an intentional effort to provide scholars with an equitable, success-bearing learning ming experience in math.

What evidence of success can you share about math coaches' growth and student achievement?

Coaches grow their content knowledge by engaging in professional learning series with a target focus for each quarter. Part of this work is PLC’s, where coaches and teachers unpack the standard to ensure the rigor of the criteria is addressed, engaging in Data-Driven Instruction protocols and internalizations of units and lessons. Teachers are more intentional in their practices, and scholars take advantage of the opportunities teachers provide to engage in problem-solving, exploring different solutions, and sharing other representations and strategies for completing grade-level tasks.

What is your vision for mathematics for Acceleration Schools?

My vision is that scholars will continually be engaged in grade-level tasks that address the rigor of the standards. Scholars' functions should be relevant and meaningful to them so that they are invested in learning. Scholars will gain a deep conceptual understanding of math concepts, their connections to each other, and the tasks that scholars are given to apply their knowledge.

What is your greatest hope, going forward, for coaches, teachers, and administrators?

I hope coaches, teachers, and administrators continue to grow their content knowledge and collaborate to ensure the school's shared vision and math goals are known, supported, and followed up on.