By Patricia Campbell, Aimee Ellington, William Haver, Vickie Inge

An influential new member joins the elementary school team…
Placing mathematics specialists in elementary schools is a recent development that is gaining momentum as schools move to more rigorous standards, including the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

Working with teachers to improve schoolwide mathematics performance, the mathematics specialist is unique among the specialists at elementary schools today.

In this handbook—

• Vignettes flesh out the elementary mathematics specialist’s many responsibilities.
   
• Experienced specialists offer tips on gaining teachers’ trust—and access to their classrooms.
   
• Special guidance highlights effective collaboration between the principal and the specialist.

The transition from classroom teacher to elementary mathematics specialist is challenging, but the principal can smooth the specialist’s path by reassuring teachers that the new specialist is there to support them, not judge them. In the authors’ words, “The mathematics specialist, when introduced to the faculty in the right way, becomes a soft place where the teacher can fall.”

About the Editors: Patricia F. Campbell, Aimee J. Ellington, William E. Haver, and Vickie L. Inge have collaborated extensively on research on school mathematics specialists with support from the National Science Foundation through grants awarded to Virginia Commonwealth University in partnership with the University of Virginia, Norfolk State University, Longwood University, the University of Maryland, and the Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition.

Praise for The Elementary Specialist’s Handbook

“Drawing on years of experience with the groundbreaking Virginia Elementary Mathematics Specialists Program, the book perfectly blends information from research and practice in describing the range of mathematics specialists’ work, challenges they face, and support that enables them to effectively lead ongoing, school-based professional learning for teachers. A must-read for all current and aspiring elementary mathematics specialists, and principals and administrators who work with them.—Diane Briars, NCTM President-Elect

“Both intellectually stimulating and full of practical advice, this new resource brings us accounts of math specialists re¬ecting on all aspects of their work—from coaching individual teachers to running grade-level meetings to working with school support personnel to participating in system-wide decision making. This book will be immediately useful to any math educator working to support and develop teacher leadership. “—Virginia Bastable, Mathematical Leadership Programs, Mount Holyoke College

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