The Future of Math Education: Curriculum and Teaching Insights

"After the Bell" the official podcast of Savannah - Chatham County Public School System

Producer Dee Daniels is at the Massie Heritage Center with District Math Content Specialists Stephen Salley - K-8 Content Specialist, Dr. Beth Tuck - Elementary Content Specialist, and Dana Marie - 6-12 Content Specialist.

They discuss changing the mindset that some people are “not math people,” emphasizing math as puzzles, games, and problem-solving—not just computation—and the reward of seeing students make connections. The guests explain the district’s K–12 math textbook adoption: 16 vendor proposals were rated by a nine-person group and narrowed to four products now being piloted in 24 schools for about six weeks, with educators and community members able to review materials and complete rubrics/surveys.

They outline how parent-teacher communication and events like Math Night help families understand instruction and advocate for students. Key dates are shared: public review at Port Wentworth on February 19 from 4–6 PM and the end of educator review and the classroom pilot period on February 27. The conversation closes with each guest naming influential educators and affirming math as their favorite subject.

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FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Welcome to After the Bell + Meet the Math Team

00:29 “Everyone’s a Math Person”: Changing the Mindset

00:58 What Math Content Specialists Do (K–12 Roles)

01:33 The Best Part: When Math Finally Clicks

02:55 New K–12 Math Textbook Pilot: What’s Happening

03:35 How Textbook Adoption Works (16 Vendors → Top 4)

04:15 The “Why”: Consistency, Access, and Support for All Learners

06:06 How Teachers & Families Can Review and Give Feedback (Public Review Details)

08:08 Bridging Math at School and Home: QR Codes, AI, and Parent Advocacy

10:15 What a “Math Night” Is (and Why It Helps)

12:17 What the Adoption Means for Students: Models, Discourse, Real-World Math

15:49 What Happens Next: Scoring Rubrics, Key Dates, and Final Selection

18:30 Quick-Fire: Influential Teachers & Favorite Subjects + Wrap-Up