Dr. John W. Staley

The work I do: I am in my 27th year with Baltimore County Public Schools where I have had the opportunity to teach middle and high school mathematics, serve as the coordinator of secondary mathematics and director of mathematics PreK-12.  I currently work on special projects which involve supporting building administrators and their leadership teams and coordinating the work of our system improvement teams to improve student achievement by “raising the bar, closing gaps, and preparing every student for the future.”

Throughout my career of more than 30 years, I taught in schools in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland at the secondary and post-secondary levels. In addition, I have presented at state, national, and international conferences; served on many committees and tasks forces; facilitated workshops and professional development sessions on a variety of topics; received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science; and served as President for NCSM, the mathematics education leadership organization (2015 – 2017), and chair of the U.S. National Commission on Mathematics Instruction (2018 – 2020).

My connection to the work of Student Achievement Partners: As a mathematics educator – teacher, leader, and advocate – for more than three decades, I remain committed to making mathematics more meaningful, relevant, and accessible for each and every student. I agreed to become a Board member because the work of SAP and more importantly their mission to “improve student achievement” directly aligns with my current interests and mission to Change the Narrative, especially for students of color and students who have been traditionally marginalized, around who is seen as a “doer and learner” of mathematics, infuse social justice into the mathematics classroom, and increase opportunities for students to access the STEM pipeline.   

The perspective I bring to this Board: As a Black, male, husband, father, Pop Pop to Bevelyn, and educator, I bring to the SAP Board: my lived experiences as a parent/grandparent navigating the school system; a teacher and leader in public and private school settings; years of service in the mathematics education community; and a commitment to advocating for change in the learning experiences so that Bevelyn and other students develop a strong sense of self-confidence in their ability to do and use mathematics in their future.