If you have ever met the Math Consultants Team at Kent ISD, you understand their passion and love for mathematics and student engagement. Rusty Anderson and Marcus Deja are focused on partnering with our districts to provide equitable opportunities for all learners in mathematics, and they are helping to lay the groundwork for change in Michigan.

Meet Rusty Anderson

Earlier this year, Rusty Anderson became the Professional Learning Grant Director for the Pre-K through 3rd grade Essential Instructional Practices in Early Mathematics. In this new role, Rusty is responsible for building a structure to disseminate professional learning to districts across the state. He is working with other directors in several other states to pull together the best research practices that will bring this document to life. This document supports Pk-3 grade math teachers much like the Literacy Essentials document focuses on ELA. This is an exciting opportunity for Kent ISD to share our voice at a state level in mathematics.

Meet Marcus Deja

Marcus Deja is also connecting Kent county on a state level. He was recently elected to chair the MAISA Math Leadership team. This role will run from 2022-2024. In this position, Marcus will be coordinating with other task forces (i.e. Disciplinary Literacy Essentials; the newly created Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force; and Essential Instructional Practices in Early Mathematics) to organize information in a way that will be meaningful for math consultants around the state. This position will allow him to give feedback on how work is being conducted at both the state level, with other math consultants, and within Kent county’s local districts that he partners with throughout the year.

Providing Services & Supports to Districts

You might be wondering if the math team will still have time to work with each of your districts, and the answer is yes! Both Rusty and Marcus have been part of the MAISA & MLT meetings and members of tasks forces for many years. As always, they will continue to partner with Kent ISD local districts to provide consultant services, professional learning, and resources. Check out this document to see the other great work that the Math team is doing.

In fact, the Math team is on their seventh year of providing #MichMe professional learning network to educators in Kent county. This network has touched almost every district in Kent county. Michigan Mathematics Educators’ Network (#MichME) serves teachers and leaders in Kent County and across the state by providing multi session professional learning. Participants are focusing this year on systems change through both technical and adaptive influences.

Testimonials of past #MichMe Participants

“I gained valuable insight and resources from my sessions and was also able to positively collaborate with other math teachers from the area.”

“Despite my best efforts to develop a growth mindset in my students, I never seem to get to all of them. I feel better now about making plans to help all of my students feel like they are an important part of the math dialogue in my room.”

Additional Collaborations

The Teaching and Learning department at Kent ISD is working hard to make sure that your voice is heard at the state and national level. These connections will provide Kent county districts with high-quality and research based support and services. Wondering what other organizations Kent ISD is collaborating with? Take a peek at all of T&L’s state and national level representation.

#KentISDtl #WeLeadLearning #Mathematics

This blog post was written in collaboration by Amanda Walma, Kent ISD Professional Learning Coordinator and Marcus Deja, Kent ISD Math Consultant, and edited by Sara Sefcik, Kent ISD PD Hub Intern.