Hartselle City Schools hires three math coaches for 2024-25 school year
Special to the Enquirer
Hartselle City Schools is adding to the quality of its elementary and intermediate math instruction with the addition of three math coaches. Beth Balch, Sarah Garner and Kayla Lawson will step into the new roles to support students and teachers in the upcoming school year.
For more than 15 years Hartselle’s teachers have worked with the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) to enrich the quality of classroom math instruction. With the addition of the expectations set forth in the 2022 Alabama Numeracy Act, HCS has sought to deliver even more resources to its math classrooms. Superintendent Dr. Brian Clayton is eager to provide the support. “We are extremely excited to provide the resource of math coaches to our students and teachers. Research validates that this resource drives math achievement.” The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) endorses adding well-trained math coaches to classrooms to improve teacher instructional practice and remove obstacles to student achievement.
The math coaches look for-ward to using their teacher talents intentionally. Balch has worked with AMSTI and has experience in instructional design and in working with both students and teachers to enhance math instruction. She said she looks forward to targeting students’ problemsolving and critical thinking through instruction “focused on foundational understanding that builds to a relevant application of math concepts in fun and meaningful ways.” Garner agrees. “I am so excited for this opportunity to collaborate with teachers and invest in students. My relationship with AMSTI and my classroom experience have prepared me to help provide proven strategies for targeted math instruction. I can’t wait to see our students soar,” she said. Lawson is in step. “I have a love for education, data-driven strategies, and small-group instruction that I cannot wait to bring to this new role. I want to empower teachers with the tools they need to help every child build confidence in math and achieve success,” Lawson added. Clayton sees these hires as a difference-maker. “We look forward to our teachers’ and young scholars’ achievement.
