Baltimore City Public Schools Math
Math allows us to make sense of our world. When students see the power and joy in mathematics—not just the steps—they can use math knowledge and problem-solving skills to build the lives they dream about.
That’s why Baltimore City Public Schools is partnering with Leading Educators to sustain a coherent math instructional system that builds teacher efficacy and strengthens students’ access to challenging learning.
About the Partnership
The Challenge
In 2021, the Baltimore City Public Schools ESSA Strategic Plan revealed gaps in math achievement among students at the margins.
In SY18, 62.6% of general education students did not meet expectations compared to 92.2% of students with disabilities. Among our race/ethnicity groups, 39.4% of white students did not meet expectations on PARCC Math compared to 71.1% of black students.”
Pandemic-related challenges exacerbated historically rooted barriers to academic success, with a disproportionate impact on students of color, those with disabilities, and English language learners. Analysis of SY 20-21 district diagnostic data signaled that a large majority of students experienced growth from the beginning to the end of the year but not at the accelerated rate needed to surpass pre-pandemic levels.
The Solution: Strengthening Teacher Support
City Schools and Leading Educators are partnering on a multi-year math capacity-building strategy in grades 6 to 8 to help teachers accelerate learning in middle schools.
Using ongoing, inquiry-based professional learning connected to the Eureka Math curriculum, teachers in 20 middle schools are practicing what they teach to improve instructional rigor and differentiation.
This year, teachers are focusing on using academic language in mathematics to help students respond to math tasks with explanations of their reasoning that meet the demands of grade-level standards.
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Academic Planning Facilitators (APFs), who lead adult learning across the district, receive support from Leading Educators in content internalization so they can offer teachers sequenced professional development on instructional practices from the Eureka curriculum at the school level.
We also design turnkey learning materials on the curriculum as a common foundation for these sessions. This allows us to provide monthly internalization PD and bi-monthly coaching for APFs on how to go deep on content knowledge with teachers that is aligned with district priorities.
We’re taking a multi-layer approach to building instructional leadership and the conditions for exponential improvement from the classroom up to central office.
The Leading Educators team meets bi-weekly consultations with district-level leaders, including the Director of STEM and network support coaches (ACLs), to reflect on instructional progress and make adjustments to upcoming professional learning plans.
Leading Educators and City School’s Teaching and Learning Team (TnL) co-design turnkey professional learning cycles and conduct monthly internalization professional development for Academic Planning Facilitators (APFs) who will lead ongoing learning for teachers.
Academic Planning Facilitators (APFs) lead content cycles at their schools for all 6-8th grade teachers. APFs are supported by their Academic Content Liaison (ACL, district math coach) and their LE coach to internalize and facilitate the cycle and monitor teacher learning in one-on-one, bi-monthly coaching.
Meet the Team
Daniel Perry
Dr. Mitchell Brookins
Araceli Flores
Naima Richardson
April Sandolph
Brielle Brewick
About Daniel Perry
Daniel has been an educator for over twenty years, with a majority within Chicago Public Schools as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, Deputy Chief of Schools, and Chief of Schools. As Chief of Schools, he led 32 elementary schools (PreK-8th grade) in leadership development, professional learning, and curriculum implementation. In this role, selected schools partnered with Leading Educators to increase staff capacity in mindset and pedagogy of math instruction, as well as implementation with the district-created curriculum in English Language Arts.
Daniel earned his MS in Elementary Education from Northwestern University as well as an MBA in Education Leadership from Keller Graduate School of Management. Daniel was recognized as a CPS Principal Fellow in which he worked on educational policy as a Capstone project, while receiving Executive Leadership training from Northwestern University.
About Dr. Mitchell Brookins
Mitchell has taught on the Southside of Chicago, been a district leader of RtI and literacy in Chicago Public Schools, and served as a school administrator in Chicago Public Schools and New Orleans. Mitchell’s professional engagements include: Literacy Content Reviewer for EdReports, Professional Learning Facilitator for the National Board Professional Teaching Standards, Professional Development Facilitator for UnboundEd, and a member of the Board of Directors for The Reading League.
Mitchell's instructional leadership as a school administrator has yielded the following results: 19-point growth in the School Performance Score, which moved ReNEW Cultural Arts Academy from a “D” to a “C” in one year, an average of 24% growth in Math and 16% growth in Reading over two years at ARISE Academy, and finally, Dwight Eisenhower was recognized for having the greatest growth gains of all open-enrollment charters in New Orleans and the School Performance Score increased by 12 points which resulted in the school’s letter grade moving from a “D” to a “C” in one year.
Mitchell has a B.A. in Elementary Education and Religious Studies from Illinois Wesleyan University, a M.A. in Teacher Leadership from Roosevelt University, and a PhD in Educational Administration at the University of New Orleans.
Dr. Mitchell Brookins in the news
About Araceli Flores
Previously with Leading Educators, Araceli supported design and facilitation for a series of statewide content-based learning sessions in Kentucky, also leading design of custom content cycles and providing coaching to district leaders. In support of Baltimore City Public Schools, she has designed Eureka Math-based content cycles, led internalization sessions with content leaders, and worked side-by-side with district staff to co-construct future professional learning.
Araceli taught elementary and middle school math in Washington, DC where she also served as the Deputy Director of Math Instruction for Friendship Public Charter Schools, as well as the Deputy Chief of Math Professional Development for DC Public Schools. Araceli loves applying ratios and proportional reasoning to her two main hobbies - baking and home improvement projects.
About Naima Richardson
Before joining LE, Naima served public schools for 20 years as a teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal in New York City and the District of Columbia. In her most recent role as Assistant Principal/Instructional Coach, she provided professional development and weekly debriefs that led her teacher team through a curriculum restructuring, resulting in improved student performance on state assessments. Naima holds a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Baruch College and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, Politics, and Advocacy from New York University.
Naima’s educational experiences in public schools, Prep for Prep 9 and boarding school showed her the importance of igniting students’ potential while providing strategic support. Naima’s support currently comes from her family and friends who encourage her to dance, travel and participate in the occasional thrill-seeking activity.
About April Sandolph
Prior to her current role at Leading Educators, April was a Math Content Lead with Instruction Partners. April made her way to New Orleans by way of KIPP New Orleans, where she had been an assistant principal but itching to focus more time on math instruction every day. Prior to that, she was a math department lead, academic data analyst, instructional coach, academic dean, and eventually director of Uplift Mighty Preparatory in Fort Worth, Texas.
April holds a Master's in Educational Leadership from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Hollins University.
About Brielle Brewick
Previously, Brielle led strategic planning for partnerships in Oakland, Grand Rapids and Chicago. As the National Delivery Manager at Leading Educators she managed logistics and operations for national events. Before joining Leading Educators, Brielle supported teacher leadership initiatives with the Partnership for Los Angeles schools and managed several large scale professional learning opportunities for educators across LAUSD. Prior to joining the non-profit sector, Brielle worked as an elementary special education teacher at a turnaround school in the Bronx, NY.
Brielle holds an M.A. in Elementary Special Education from Hunter College and a B.A. in Sociology from Fordham University. She lives in South Bend, Indiana, with her husband, two kids and dog and spends her free time reading, hiking and traveling.
Brielle Brewick in the news
The Partnership in Action
Read related stories about the work in Baltimore from the math experts who are leading the partnership.
Learn About Our Literacy Work in Baltimore
In addition to the math, we are also partnering with Baltimore City Public Schools to build teachers’ knowledge and skill in using the science of reading across the system.
