Common Core Teacher Leaders Program
Since the 2016-17 school year, Salesforce has bolstered OUSD’s efforts to build teacher capacity, collaboration, and leadership among its middle schools by supporting the Common Core Teacher Leaders (CCTL) program. Grant support has funded three full-time math coaches to lead math teachers and provide direct instruction to students at United For Success Academy, West Oakland Middle School, and Westlake Middle School.
District Wide Math Collaboratives
In addition to supporting the teachers and students at these three schools, CCTLs lead monthly district-wide math collaboratives which bring together math teachers from all Oakland middle schools to provide instructional support, facilitate collaboration and deepen educator content and pedagogical knowledge. The aim of their work is to increase educator capacity, encourage teacher retention, and ultimately improve student outcomes.
Blueprint Math Fellows Program
In addition to supporting the CCTL program, Salesforce’s investment allows the Blueprint Math Fellows Program to provide its high-dosage tutoring program to eight Oakland middle schools, reaching over 400 students. The program puts Blueprint Math Fellows into classrooms of just three to four students to provide direct, individualized instruction to purposefully address gaps in foundational math knowledge and builds students’ ability to problem solve and think critically. The implementation of this program led to a 23 percent decrease in the number of students in Blueprint Math who are three or more grade levels below standard on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) assessment.
In addition to increased achievement in math, students are made to feel comfortable learning difficult subjects. Principal April Harris-Jackson from Bret Harte Middle School shares, “Blueprint is improving outcomes for students by creating a safe space to learn and grow. Students are willing to take risks and make mistakes because they know they will have the support of the Fellows and their peers to turn those errors into a stronger and clear understanding of mathematics.” Students genuinely enjoy their time in their Blueprint class, with one student saying, “I love this class. This is my new home.”
