The Work I Do
Denise M Walston is the eldest daughter in her family and the proud, doting godmother and aunt of Pyar (who just happens to be the family’s only grandchild). Denise’s life work has been spent in urban education where she has worked tirelessly to see mathematics truly become empowering for students, especially for women and black and brown students that are often marginalized. Denise has worked collaboratively with teachers to deepen their understanding of mathematics, consider teacher moves that allow students to access the content while cajoling them to become their best and to finish well. Finally, aside from work, Denise has been on an ever-changing spiritual journey. She is the first to admit that in these turbulent times, her spirit has been tested continuously. Denise is currently the Chief of Curriculum for the Council of the Great City Schools. Her work focuses on supporting member districts in their implementation of college-and career-readiness standards in the four core content areas, assisting with the development of resources and tools to support implementation, and providing ongoing support for improving student achievement.
She retired from Norfolk Public Schools (NPS) as the Senior Coordinator of K-12 Mathematics in 2011. Her responsibilities included leading the development of the district’s mathematics curriculum; providing job-embedded professional development; leveraging resources to provide quality professional development for teachers, teacher leaders, and administrators. During her tenure, Norfolk Public Schools embarked on an Algebra for ALL initiative which resulted in more than 50% of students completing algebra by the end of grade eight while simultaneously improving student achievement and closing achievement gaps. During her tenure in NPS, she represented the district on several statewide committees that resulted in the development of Virginias’ mathematics specialist program.
My Connection to the Work of Student Achievement Partners
When she began working with CGCS, her first collaboration was a 2-day professional development session for district mathematics leaders facilitated by the founders of Student Achievement Partners (SAP). This session focused on developing a deeper understanding of the Common Core Mathematics Standards and how to support teachers with implementation. Student Achievement Partners is an organization that our CGCS team continues to rely upon as a critical friend and to review resources developed for their consistency with the standards. Her willingness to become a member of the Board is because of the alignment of their work with standards implementation and translating them into practice by supporting teachers and student learning. More importantly, their commitment to improving educational outcomes for students of color aligns with my passion and advocacy for creating equitable opportunities.
The Perspective I Bring to this Board
The perspectives Denise brings to this Board reflect extensive experience as a high school mathematics teacher and a K-12 district mathematics leader within a large urban school district. Additionally, there is a significant background of collaboration with other large urban districts and leadership in several national mathematics organizations. These roles have included service as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (2018-2021); as 1st Vice-President (2011-2012) and 2nd Vice-President (2010-2011) of the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics; and as President (2008-2010) of the Virginia Council for Mathematics Supervision. A deep impatience persists, Denise is driven by the fact that after more than 30 years, there is still a need to advocate for equitable opportunities for all students. This impatience serves as a catalyst for meaningful change. The time is now to transform the vision of equity and excellence for all students into a tangible reality.