Dallas ISD is innovating professional learning and development for teachers of elementary math courses.
Math Academies are a three-part professional learning series that will help introduce and reinforce teacher’s content and pedagogical knowledge. This initiative marks the first large-scale program as part of the district’s numeracy strategy, addressing a critical need in mathematics education.
Geared toward math teachers in kindergarten through fifth grade, each session is dedicated to the study, application, and pedagogy of key math concepts through multiple representations.
The new trend in math requires more complex thinking, not simply getting the right answer, said Superintendent Stephanie S. Elizalde, Ed.D.
“It is our responsibility to help,” she said. “We’re setting teachers up to have time to understand conceptual development because many of us didn’t have training in this way.”
The content of the academies is being created internally by the district’s Mathematics Department. This ensures that each session is tailored to the specific needs of Dallas ISD teachers and students.
“This is a space for participants to explore the knowledge and skills expected of students,” said Elena Hill, deputy chief academic officer. “This opportunity unpacks student learning across grade levels and reinforces how math evolves over time.”
These efforts will grow teacher’s abilities to equip students with a strong foundation in algebraic readiness and will, over time, position more students to access algebra I in 8th grade. Exposure to advanced mathematics in middle school opens doors for students to engage in more rigorous mathematics coursework in high school. This enhances their college and career readiness and success on important assessments such as TSIA2, SAT, and ACT.
For Aaron Aguirre-Castillo, executive director of the Mathematics Department, the investment comes with fostering a positive math identity and empowering leaders, teachers and students to appreciate the subject and productive struggle that may come with it.
“We want to debunk the idea of not being a math person,” he said. “We want to explore, understand, and address the root of why that is.”
Made possible through a partnership between School Leadership, Academic Services, and Human Capital Management, Math Academies are open to 550 teachers across 47 schools this year. Participants will be awarded a certificate, and the district plans to have all elementary schools participate by the end of the 2025-2026 school year.
Dallas ISD has a long-standing literacy strategy, including the House Bill (HB 3) Reading Academies for all kindergarten through third grade teachers and leaders. By implementing Math Academies, Dallas ISD is taking a significant step towards enhancing mathematics education, preparing students for advanced coursework, and ultimately improving their academic and career prospects.
