The percentage of teachers comfortable with teaching math is up dramatically at local public schools.
About 98% of educators feel prepared to handle mathematics learning and support as of the latest survey in April. That's a jump from 30% in September of 2016.
Teaching Consultant for the Greater Essex County District School Board, Heidi Horn-Olivito, says the data analysis is work done by the board's Math Task Force.
Horn-Olivito says part of the success has been putting teachers in the students' chair.
"We're doing math," says Horn-Olivito. "We're engaging in math learning together. We engage in the pedagogy of mathematics, so what are the best ways we can instruct and support mathematics learning, but we're also engaging in mathematics together."
Horn-Olivito says the improvement for educators isn't limited to teaching the concepts.
"Not only teaching mathematics, but also supporting and leading mathematics in their schools," she says.
To continue to build on its math focus, the board is set to offer additional qualifications to its teachers for mathematics education, allowing participants to either take the lessons online or learn with other professionals in a nearby school.
The Math Task Force also found 91% of its Math Leads — students, teachers and administrators that are part of math councils — would be happy to stay on in the role going forward.