Posted by Carlos Lopez Gonzalez on 2026-03-27
OCTM leader Jim Mamer sat down with Carlos Lopez Gonzalez and Michael Todd Edwards to discuss what it really takes to sustain math reform: strong tasks, coherent curriculum, and long-term support for teachers.
"The tasks matter," Mamer says. "If we have 20 math teachers in a district, and everybody's individually making up their own things, we're not running a system."
Reflecting on decades in classrooms, Mamer describes the shift from procedure-first teaching to deeper problem solving. "Our questions shifted from, 'Can they do this?' to 'How can we get our kids to do this?'"
He is direct about the stakes: growth, not just proficiency, and structures that support teachers over time. "Growth is the great equalizer."
This interview was conducted by Carlos Lopez Gonzalez as part of the Voices from the Field series.
If you know of someone we should interview, please reach out to Carlos Lopez Gonzalez at caalopezgo@gmail.com or Todd Edwards at toddedwards@ohioctm.org.