How to elevate an award-winning math strategy
Forget “silver bullet” software: Tuscaloosa City Schools is proving that the secret to national math success is investing in people.
Superintendent Mike Daria recently joined the “DA Changemakers” podcast to detail how his district became one of only 108 nationwide recognized for significant math growth in a recent education scorecard. The transformation required a deliberate shift from isolated “pockets of excellence” to a unified, system-wide instructional framework.
The district’s journey began with its “Reading Before Third Grade” initiative. As literacy rates rose, Daria realized math instruction lacked a consistent expectation of excellence. By applying the same intentionality used for literacy, the district developed a numeracy plan that prioritized teacher support over chasing the latest fads.
“The answer was high-quality instruction with a teacher in the classroom,” Daria says. To achieve this, the district established a “coaching culture” by placing math coaches in every school. This move transitioned teachers from working in isolation to participating in job-embedded, collaborative professional development tailored to their specific classroom needs.
Daria also highlights the Alabama Numeracy Act as a catalyst for bigger change but emphasizes that principals are the key to success. The district invests heavily in its “Future Instructional Leaders Academy” and provides principals with specialized math training so they can provide expert feedback alongside coaches.
Data also plays a critical role, with common formative assessments guiding real-time adjustments in instruction. The district added roughly 165 hours of annual instruction through a reimagined summer learning program. This extra time has turned the “summer slide” into a learning accelerator, with many students returning in the fall more advanced than when they left in the spring.
By maintaining a consistent “compass” and focusing on the competence and confidence of its educators, Tuscaloosa City Schools offers a replicable model for districts across the country.
To hear the entire “DA Changemakers” podcast, listen to the episode below.
You Might Also Like
3 superintendents to watch: How they are energizing community engagement
As if a superintendent’s life isn’t busy enough, Lisa Witte’s idea of community engagement is volunteering for her local fire department and EMT service.
From ‘me’ to ‘we’: The importance of solid board-superintendent relationships
When boards and superintendents work together, they can set clear goals and expectations for student achievement and ensure that all students have the support and resources they need to succeed.
How this superintendent incorporated high-dosage tutoring that produces results
Guilford County Schools Superintendents has helped the district set its sights on three areas crucial for the success of her students post-pandemic: expanding learning, high-intensity tutoring and acceleration—not remediation—by teaching kids grade-level content.
Superintendent steps down from a big district as turnover keeps churning
Superintendent Diana Greene will leave Florida’s Duval County Public Schools in the coming weeks after having served in the post since 2018.
My top three priorities in becoming a new superintendent: Listen, listen, listen
A foundational goal for any new leader is building positive relationships. While there may be an inner struggle to fight the urge at times to roll up your sleeves and dig into the work, the true success of the leader and district needs to be built on a mutual level of trust and relationship.
‘It was the best professional development that I had ever been through’
When Superintendent Jonathan Prince took the helm at St. Lucie Public Schools in 2022, he described it as being passed the torch by Bear Bryant. Fortunately, he had the experience from District Administration’s Superintendent’s Academy to rely on.
