Chicago Public Schools School-Based Math Professional Learning Support

​​​DePaul STEM Center offers school-based professional development whose goal is to build and expand teacher capacity to provide powerful mathematics instruction grounded in the Teaching for Robust Understanding of Math (TRU Math) Dimensions and in alignment with the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) and district priorities, with an emphasis on collaborative practice.

All partnerships are designed to meet the needs of the specific school. In addition to the support options below, year-long partnership also includes consultation with DePaul STEM Staff and access to high-quality math resources. Please contact Alanna Mertens amerten1@depaul.edu for more information and costs.

Math Team
Support OptionsDescription
Full-Day Professional Learning Session
  • Professional learning centered on building and expanding teacher capacity to provide powerful mathematics instruction
  • Designed to address the school's instructional goals
  • 4-6 hour session
  • School secures location; virtual sessions will be hosted on the Zoom platform
  • Teacher stipends or substitute coverage paid by the school, if applicable
  • Schools are encouraged to join together for enhanced collaboration
Half-Day Professional Learning Session

  • Professional learning centered on building and expanding teacher capacity to provide powerful mathematics instruction
  • Designed to address the school's instructional goals
  • 1-3 hour session
  • School secures location; virtual sessions will be hosted on the Zoom platform
  • Teacher stipends or substitute coverage paid by the school, if applicable
  • Schools are encouraged to join together for enhanced collaboration
Grade Level Meeting Support
  • Grade Level Teams will learn about and experience strategies to promote powerful math instruction, collaboratively plan for implementation, and reflect on their own practice
  • 1-2 hour session
  • Meetings can follow the existing grade level meeting schedule
​Collaborative Coaching
  • Collaborative coaching brings teams of two to six teachers together to support one another as they apply their professional learning
  • 1.5-2 hour session
  • Cycle includes pre-conference (joint planning), observation, and post-conference (joint debrief and reflection)
  • Administration will secure class coverage for the pre-conference, observation, and post conference for all collaborating teachers (~2 hours per session)
Individual Coaching
  • Individual coaching is designed to support a teacher's growth in his/her own powerful math practice; individual coaching is intended for teachers who are in a new role
  • 1.5-2 hour session
  • Cycle includes pre-conference, observation, and post-conference
  • Administration will secure class coverage for the pre-conference and post-conference for the individual teacher (~2 hours per session)
Consulting
  • All math teachers and administrators have access to a DePaul STEM team member for consultation
  • Scheduled points of contact between the DePaul STEM team member and staff to support math instruction
  • May include in-person or virtual meetings with teams of teachers when specific needs or opportunities arise