Dear Chairman Andre Peek and Chairwoman Tammy Covil,

The Academic Standards Review Commission has a great opportunity to highlight important

issues for teachers. We appreciate the efforts to host focus groups, survey teachers and take

written comments. Many of us were unable to attend the focus groups, but we have been

following your work and recommendations. As a group of concerned teachers from around the

state, we have three recommendations as you finalize your report to the State Board of

Education.

1) Oppose a complete overhaul

The ASRC math working group recommends repealing North Carolina’s math standards and

replacing them with Minnesota’s standards. We strongly urge you to remove this

recommendation from the final report. As you hear from teachers about important challenges

we face, we hope you will recognize complete replacement or overhaul exacerbates our

challenges and ignores the complexity of the issues.

2) Support better assessments

Many of us face a difficult challenge as we make plans for instruction. Some of the tests we are

required to administer do not align well with the standards. While the standards incentivize

critical thinking, problem solving and conceptual understanding, our tests often fail to capture

these important concepts. Often, concerns about workload and developmental appropriateness

are more a problem with the assessments than with the standards. As a commission, we urge

you to include in your report that aligned assessments are critical.

3) Recognize the meaning of clarity

We appreciate the commission’s focus on clarity and developmental appropriateness. Please

also note that these two issues go beyond the standards. We hope the Academic Standards

Review Commission will help the State Board of Education ensure that our standards,

curriculum and teacher support resources are clear and appropriate.

Sincerely,

Joanna Schimizzi, Charlotte, NC, Independence High School ,Grade 10

Amy Steelman, Wilmington, NC, Charles P. Murray Middle School, Grade 8

Shannon Thomae, Greensboro, Grimsley High School, 9-12 Special Education

Karen McPherson, Buncombe County Schools, High School Math Coach

Roxxane Breland, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, ELA Coach

Rob Leichner, West Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte, NC, Grades 9-12, Math

Theodore Mueller English 1 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Roberta Rohan, Greensboro, Grimsley High School, Grades 9 through 12

Rolanda Baldwin, Greensboro, NC, Guilford County Schools, K- 12Math Curriculum Coordinator

Hannah Orr, Greensboro, Grimsley High School, 9-11 Math

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Sara Keever, Pittsboro, Northwood High School

Kathy Bonyun, Buncombe County Schools, High School Literacy Coach

Susan Orr, Greensboro, Northwest Guilford High School, Curriculum Facilitator

Eric Grant, Buncombe County, social studies and ELA Specialist, Grade 6 – 12

Amy Hardison, Anderson Elementary, 5th Grade Language Arts/Social Studies

Laura Mayer, Asheville, 9-12 Instructional Coach

Michelle Stephan, UNC Charlotte, Math Educator

Lindsey Walborn ,China Grove, Carson High School, High school math

YKeyla Perry, Winston Salem, Quality Education Academy, Grade 3

Barbara Ussary, New Hanover County Schools, K-5 Mathematics, K-8 Science

Jeff Crayton, Greensboro, Grimsley High, Math I

Wendi Pillars, Siler City, NC, Jordan-Matthews High School Grades 9-12

Emily Williams, Charlotte, NC, Independence High School, grades 10-12

Claire Capps, Hillsborough, NC, A.L. Stanback Middle Schools, 8th grade Math

Lucas Pasley, Sparta, NC, Alleghany High School, English Teacher

Trey Ferguson, Raleigh, High School Math

Bryan Christopher, Riverside High School, English

Ben Owens, Murphy, Tri-County Early College High School, grades 9-11

Sarah Henchey, Orange County Schools, English

Courtney Sears, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Ephesus Elementary School, 2nd Grade

Keith G. Williams, Science, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, East Mecklenburg High School 9-12

Stephanie Boehmer, Southport Elementary School, Kindergarten, Southport, NC

Heather Layton, Weddington Middle School, Matthews, NC, 7th Grade

Tamara Houchard,Curriculum Specialist/MTSS District Coordinator, Mitchell County Schools, K-

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Melanie Rhyne, Sunset Park Elementary, Wilmington, IAS-K-5; exceptional children's

department

Kendra Harrison, Roland Grise Middle School, Wilmington North Carolina, Grade 6 Science

Teacher

Kelly M. Oakley, ELA Teacher and Instructional Coach, Roland-Grise Middle School, Wilmington,

NC

Joshua Hudgins, Greensboro, Grimsley High, Math I

Lynnette E. Butler, Media Coordinator, Scotland High School

Jordan McEwen, Roland Grise Middle School, Wilmington, NC Grade 8 Science Teacher

Mackenzie Inman, Asheville, North Buncombe HS, 9-12

Dr. James A. Brooks, Millers Creek, NC, West Wilkes High School, English, grade 12

Diana Luong, Biology Teacher, Butler High School, Matthews, NC

Ryan Redd, Math Teacher, Wilmington, Roland Grise Middle School, Math, 8th grade

Nancy Gardner, Mooresville Senior High School, Mooresville, NC 12th grade (retired)

Amy Churchill, Buncombe County Board of Education, Roberson District Representative

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