Investing in Teachers to Transform Schools

In June 2011, Center for Inspired Teaching launched the Inspired Teaching Institute for Mathematics Teachers, a partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools to prepare the district's middle school math teachers for implementation of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics through an inquiry-based instructional approach. That summer, Jessica Hiltabidel, a middle school math teacher in Baltimore, began her journey toward becoming an Inspired Teacher. 

While participating in the week-long training and monthly practicum sessions of the Inspired Teaching Institute, Jessica transformed her teaching practice to one centered on inquiry-based teaching and learning strategies.  She believes the most important thing she learned was that her role as a teacher had to change from "an information provider" to "an instigator of thought". "I had to stop showing students how and start showing them what they already could," Jessica said. "I had to stop giving examples and start asking questions." Using completely student-driven instruction, Jessica helped every single one of her students move forward no matter how far behind they may have been. Her test scores are now higher than ever before, and her students are retaining information longer while taking responsibility of their own learning.  

Because of Center for Inspired Teaching, Jessica has taken a leadership role in the school, represented Inspired Teaching in meetings and at conferences, and wrote an article on student achievement in her class as the result of teaching through inquiry. Moving forward, Jessica will stay involved with the Inspired Teaching Institute for Mathematics Teachers by coordinating the work of teacher leaders who will support the incoming cohort of teachers.