Middle School Math teachers are working hard.
Administrators are investing in PD.
So Why Aren’t Students Thriving?
The Problem Isn’t Effort, It’s Alignment.
When middle schools lack a shared vision for math achievement, teachers work in silos, administrators struggle to measure effectiveness, and students get caught in the middle.
Misalignment between teaching practices and leadership strategies hampers student achievement.
BEFORE
Fragmented PD + Teaching =
Weak Student Success
AFTER
Aligned Teaching & Leadership =
Predictable Student Growth
This shift isn’t accidental. It happens when schools use the right framework.
That’s where the Sense-Focused Framework comes in.
Our proprietary framework ensures that student understanding drives instructional decisions, leading to measurable success.
Nakasha Kirkland,
Middle School Math Strategist
I didn’t set out to be a math educator. In 2002, I entered education through an alternative certification program with a focus in Social Studies only to find myself placed in a Grade 6 math classroom. I quickly realized that knowing how to follow rules and procedures wasn’t the same as truly understanding mathematics—and if I was struggling with this distinction, my students certainly were too.
That moment sparked a lifelong commitment to figuring out how to make math make sense for every learner. Over the years, I’ve honed my expertise through deep analysis of student work, ongoing professional development, collaborative lesson planning with educators, and partnerships with parents to bridge home and school learning.
Through it all, I’ve remained focused on one thing: closing the gap between what’s taught and what’s actually understood.
Today, I help teachers and administrators create aligned, effective math instruction that ensures student success isn’t left to chance. Whether I’m working with a room full of educators or partnering with a leadership team, my goal always remains to turn good intentions into real instructional impact.
-Nakasha Kirkland