Preparing a Next Generation of Mathematics Teacher Leaders for Washington State

A project funded through a Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education and the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)

This partnership between MEC, the nine Education Service Districts (ESDs) in Washington, Spokane Falls Community College, the Northwest Indian College and Western Washington University was dedicated to improving mathematics education and student learning. The project goal was to prepare a statewide cadre of new teacher leaders who are well prepared to help teachers, schools and districts learn to enact the Common Core State Standards and the Standards for Mathematical Practice in schools and districts throughout Washington State.

This 2-1/2 year leadership project (Spring 2013 – Summer 2015) employed a delayed leadership model so that future teacher leaders had time and support as they transform their own classroom practice before taking on new leadership roles.  The work is based on a belief that in order to lead empowering mathematics professional development work, Regional Math Support Team Teachers (RMSTs) must first understand fully what it takes and what it means to align classroom practice with the Standards for Mathematical Practice.

To support these new leaders as they work in their classrooms, MEC provided a series of 4-day mathematics content workshops, monthly webinars using MSPnet, and pushes into classrooms with Studio Days for teachers and administrators.  Both virtual meetings through webinars and classroom-based Studio Days proved far more effective than we had anticipated.

Major changes are happening in the classrooms of every RMST and they view this classroom work as foundational to their new leadership roles.  Many RMSTs are now actively providing a series of CCSS-based mathematics content workshops (developed by MEC using MEC’s Principles of Design) to grades 4 – 10 teachers throughout the state; others are now just beginning their new leadership roles.

To learn more about this groundbreaking work designed to develop a next generation of mathematics teacher leaders, please click on the links to the left.