Inspiring a Math Culture of Flexibility, Grit, and Belief in Your School:
One Rich Task at a Time
Presenter: Jay Meadows and Danielle Legnard
Cost: Free
Location: Remote Webinar
Watch On-Demand
How can math leaders spark a culture of flexibility, grit, and belief among teachers and students? It starts with a vision, but the true magic happens when that vision comes alive in classrooms every day.
In this edWebinar, we explore how to move from broad goals to daily reality, with specific strategies for partnering with teachers to build classrooms full of incredible mathematical thinkers—students who relish the opportunity to struggle, persevere, reflect, and explore ideas without fear of being wrong.
Danielle Legnard, a former school principal and current college professor turned district math coach, made the bold choice to return to coaching to fuel this cultural shift. Her work is inspiring real change, and she shares the practical moves that are making it happen in this session. A key part of this transformation is helping teachers shift their instincts: to resist rescuing students and instead honor their perseverance, mistakes, and insights.
Join us and learn how a belief in effort, exploration, and growth can transform students into powerful, confident mathematicians—one rich task at a time. This edWebinar is of interest to K-12 teachers, school leaders, and district leaders.
About the Presenters
Jay Meadows serves as Exemplars’ Chief Executive Officer. He is a former middle school math and science teacher and has been working in education for more than two decades. Jay holds a Master of Arts in teaching from the University of Vermont and a master’s in mathematical pedagogy from Southern New Hampshire University.
Jay is also one of Exemplars’ primary performance task writers and professional development consultants for the middle level. Leading sessions throughout the United States, Jay works with teachers to integrate performance tasks and research-based best practices into their curricula. Through Exemplars, Jay dreams of teaching a generation of students to become powerful problem solvers. Prior to his career in education, Jay coordinated delegations from the former Soviet Union through U.S. State Department grants. Jay has also worked alongside a number of international non-profits and is a former Peace Corps Volunteer.
Danielle Legnard is a Professor at Sacred Heart University, where she teaches pre-service teachers in the Isabelle Farrington College of Education, and a K–3 Instructional Math Coach in Bethel, CT. With over 25 years in education, Danielle has served as a classroom teacher, math and reading specialist, district math coordinator, and elementary school principal. She holds a Master of Arts in elementary education, a sixth-year degree in educational leadership, and an administrator’s certification from Sacred Heart University. Danielle is passionate about developing strong math identities, promoting problem solving, metacognitive thinking, and fostering student agency in math classrooms. Danielle has contributed to the advancement of mathematics education at both local and national levels, serving on numerous committees, leading workshops, and co-authoring publications with a focus on improving math instruction and supporting young learners. Outside of work, she enjoys golfing, launching rockets, and spending time with her family.
