Small Steps, Big Changes

During the past two decades, Chris Confer and Marco Ramirez have worked to deepen and improve mathematics instruction at schools around the country. Wherever they go, they find the raw ingredients for success already present: ôThe potential for positive change lies within each school. Abundance is present in the form of capable children, teachers, coaches, and principals. Potential energy-what can be-transforms into kinetic energy-what will be-only when a force is accurately applied to move a school in the right direction.ö

Chris Confer has a passion for mathematics, teaching children, and using math to transform schools into successful learning communities. An educator for more than thirty years, Chris provides professional development across the nation through her popular workshops, lesson studies, and conference presentations. In the four books that she has authored on teaching mathematics, and in the articles she has published on math coaching, Chris shares her practical and effective strategies for unleashing the potential of all students. Marco Ramirez is an award-winning educator who has successfully transformed schools using mathematics as the leverage for change. His work with schools is practical and rooted in the classroom. Marco shares his passion and expertise both in the classroom and at the administrative level through the professional development he provides nationally. Marco has taught multiple grade levels-from middle school to primary grades-and won the Milken Educator of the Year award as a principal.