When math education centers equity, curiosity, and creativity, classrooms become spaces where every student has the opportunity to thrive. This vision guided Bank Street’s third annual Summer Math Conference, a two-day professional learning experience for K–12 educators, coaches, and school leaders.
Titled “Meeting the Moment: Transforming Math Learning for All Students,” the conference took place on Tuesday, August 5, and Wednesday, August 6 at the Interchurch Center in Morningside Heights. Hosted collaboratively by the Bank Street Education Center and the Leadership in Mathematics Education Program at Bank Street Graduate School of Education, the event provided educators with strategies to create learning environments that foster mathematical thinking, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging for every learner.
“Math education today requires us to adapt to the diverse needs of students and to think intentionally about how we build classrooms that are both rigorous and supportive,” said Tracy Fray-Oliver, Vice President, Bank Street Education Center. “This year’s theme, Meeting the Moment, reflected our shared commitment to ensuring all students see themselves as capable and powerful mathematical thinkers.”
The conference opened with a keynote presentation by Evan Jenkins, SFC ’93, GSE ’18, High School Math Director for the KIPP Foundation. With more than 25 years of experience as a mathematics teacher, coach, and leader, Jenkins has played a pivotal role in strengthening high school math instruction nationwide. In his talk, “‘New’ Math Classroom: Lessons From the Past to Shape Our Future,” he shared insights on how educators can draw from historical practices to design more effective, equitable, and engaging math experiences today.
Over the course of the two-day conference, participants engaged in eight interactive workshop sessions. Topics included supporting higher-order thinking for all students, playful problem-solving with neurodiverse learners, developing number sense in the early grades, and using formative practices to meet the needs of diverse classrooms, among others. Each session was designed to be hands-on and reflective, offering practical tools that educators could bring back to their schools.
One participant described the conference as “Such an informative, energizing community that helped expose me to really specific actionable ideas to make my daily teaching life more successful.”
In addition to workshops, the conference included time for community building and collaborative reflection. These opportunities allowed participants to connect with peers, share insights, and consider how new strategies could shape their own teaching practice.
Another attendee noted, “This was such a great way to connect with new and old colleagues and I feel reinvigorated going into the school year!”
Reflecting on the event, Amy Withers, Interim Program Director of the Leadership in Mathematics Education Program, Bank Street Graduate School of Education, said, “Preparing teachers to lead math instruction means equipping them with both deep content knowledge and the skills to create inclusive, student-centered classrooms. At this conference, we were able to model what that preparation looks like—engaging teachers as learners themselves so they can, in turn, inspire their students.”
The Summer Math Conference has continued to grow as a meaningful space for educators to learn together and reimagine math classrooms that empower students. By emphasizing innovative approaches and real-world applications, Bank Street supports teachers in inspiring joy, confidence, and deep mathematical understanding.
To learn more about Bank Street’s work in the K-12 math education space, visit our website