Why Principals Must Lead School-Level Change In Mathematics

Making Math Moments That Matter

We know principals are busy—constantly managing urgent issues and putting out fires. But we also know this: school-level change is the most powerful lever we have for improving student learning in math. So the real question is: are we setting school leaders up for math success?

In this episode, we help schools and districts reflect on their current systems and support structures using a simple leadership audit:

• How are we positioning principals to take ownership of instructional leadership in math?
• Are they aligned to the school’s math goals?
• What’s getting in the way—and how can we fix it?

You’ll hear about common barriers schools face and gain actionable ideas from our work in math across North America to overcome them. If we want meaningful math improvement, engaging principals is not optional—it’s essential.

Key Takeaways:

• Why principals are essential for leading instructional change in math
• How to identify and remove barriers that limit principal involvement
• What it looks like when district and school leadership are aligned on math goals
• Questions to help you audit your current leadership structures for math
• Strategies to build principal ownership and capacity in math instruction

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/

Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com

Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

Show Notes Page

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Are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans that leave students so engaged they don’t want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? In their podcast, Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr—founders of MakeMathMoments.com—share over 19 years of experience inspiring K-12 math students, teachers, and district leaders with effective math activities, engaging resources, and innovative math leadership strategies. Through a 6-step framework, they guide K-12 classroom teachers and district math coordinators on building a strong, balanced math program that grows student and teacher impact. Each week, gain fresh ideas, feedback, and practical strategies to feel more confident and motivate students to see the beauty in math. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: "Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180.