From the Inside-Out

Richard A. Andrusiak is a mathematics professor and department chair at River Valley Community College in Claremont, NH. He is certified as an elementary mathematics specialist, 7–12 mathematics educator, and curriculum coordinator. His work and research in mathematics education focuses on curriculum development, students’ attitudes toward mathematics, and equity and access issues. Dr. Andrusiak is a former NH State Supervisor of K–12 mathematics, where he worked with professors, public school teachers, and other mathematics specialists around the nation on improving mathematics education. Amanda Bastoni is an award winning author, grant writer, educational leader, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Director in the Nashua School District, NH. She is certified as a CTE teacher, principal, vice-principal, and CTE Director. She has developed new pathways and programs targeted to meet the needs of English Language Learners and non-traditional students, created interdisciplinary courses, organized fundraising campaigns, developed educational publicity programs, and written educational articles for local and national outlets. In 2019, Dr. Bastoni was named NH CTE State Leader of the Year. Carlton J. Fitzgerald has been an educator since 1971. He was a classroom teacher for 12 years, working mostly with reluctant or struggling students. He was a public school administrator for 24 years, working at all levels for his school district. In 2007, he began his fulltime work at New England College, where he served as an associate professor of education, Director of the MED program, and Associate Dean of Education. Dr. Fitzgerald presently is retired from full-time work and lives in Romania, serving as an adjunct faculty member both at NEC and the University of Oradea (Romania).Christopher Geraghty is a social studies educator and department chair at Kearsarge Regional High School located in North Sutton, NH. He is certified as a 5–12 Social Studies Educator and a school Principal by the state of New Hampshire. Dr. Geraghty also serves as a social studies instructional coach for the Center for Secondary School Redesign, and guest lecturer at New England College, teaching graduate courses with a focus on inquiry-based education and the integration of STEAM across the curriculum.Simona Laurian-Fitzgerald is an associate professor at the University of Oradea (Romania). Her specialty areas include children’s literature, education, and English. Prior to her work at the university, she was an elementary teacher for five years. Dr. Laurian-Fitzgerald’s research interests include cooperative learning and other student-centered teaching and learning strategies. She has experience working with students online, in hybrid classes, as well as her face-to-face classes. She also works with teachers to help them develop their skills for advancement in their careers. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen is currently the superintendent of schools for the Webster Public Schools; a “turnaround” district in Massachusetts. Dr. Petruno-Goguen is an experienced educator and change-agent, with over twenty years of experience serving children and teachers in rural, urban, and suburban school districts.

This diverse group of authors and world-class educators have joined forces to light up the sky with illuminating stories of hope and possibility, along with a warning flare about the unacceptable state of America’s schools. We must change course dramatically, fundamental, and ‘now’, if we are to save our system of public education and our children’s futures. The authors call upon those “outsiders” who have controlled America’s public education system for the past 30 years to admit their monstrous failure and step aside. It is time for “insiders”, teachers and their students, to join as partners and co-create our nation’s schools and classrooms, based on student-centered, equity-driven, inquiry -based, project- oriented, talent-focused, forward-looking teaching and learning practices, along with the elimination of testingand expanded use of formative assessment as the core elements of school transformation. This essential book shows how the authors are creating rigorous new learning models and new relationships between teachers and learners that are breathing joy, life, and dreams of a bright future for every child into our schools and classrooms. Their important stories show us what we can achieve tomorrow, if we have the will and courage to stand up together and reclaim teaching, learning and our schools today.

• Foreword by Gavin HenningPrefaceIntroductionI. Reform before it is Too LateCarlton J. Fitzgerald and Simona Laurian-Fitzgerald II. A Call for Change from Within the ClassroomChristopher GeraghtyIII. Eliminating Exams from Gateway College Mathematics Courses: Going Beyond Corequisite MathematicsRichard A. Andrusiak IV. Every Child Must Be ValuedAmanda Bastoni V. Challenging Status Quo from One Superintendent’s PerspectiveRuthann Petruno-Goguen VI. What Next: Boom or BustCarlton J. Fitzgerald and Simona Laurian-Fitzgerald ReferencesAbout the Authors