This project - Preparing, Supporting, and Retaining Elementary Mathematics Specialists in High Needs Urban Schools - aims to recruit successful, experienced, and diverse elementary mathematics teachers from high-need schools that serve underrepresented student populations to become Elementary Mathematics Specialists (EMSs); increase the number of EMSs in these schools through evidence-based preparation in two university endorsement programs; develop EMSs who are highly effective mathematics teachers and teacher leaders; and support and retain EMSs as they serve as teacher leaders, including coaching university teacher candidates, in these schools. The project also aims to promote equity and access in mathematics, support teacher retention in high-need schools, and situate teacher candidates in a hiring pipeline.

This is a five-year project involving 27 teachers from the highest need elementary schools in the district. These teachers engage in university endorsement programs for K-5 Mathematics and Teacher Support and Coaching in order to develop as EMSs who deliver rigorous mathematics instruction in their classrooms and serve as mathematics teacher leaders in a variety of ways, such as:

• coaching university teacher candidates
• providing professional development to their peers
• mentoring novice teachers at their schools
• supporting the nonprofit’s after school tutoring program

Support for these EMSs for the duration of the five year program includes participation in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and individual mentoring focused on implementation of their university learning and trajectories as teacher leaders. 

Our video includes various voices from our project during its first year and how issues of equity and access are already being addressed. 

NSF Awards: 1950064

Presented in: 2021 (see original presentation & discussion)