Kali Capps

 My Why

When you know your why then your what has more impact because you’re working toward your purpose. - Michael Jr.

I teach because I want to help shape our future.  I want students to see themselves as lifelong learners and that they are capable of accomplishing difficult things.  I strive to create an environment where students are comfortable with taking risks and making mistakes.  I try to challenge my students to engage in conversations and think critically about the topics at hand. I hope to impact the community and help support my students to become the best version of themselves.  

I lead because I take initiative, am optimistic, and I am a facilitator of change.  I consider many perspectives before deciding on a direction, yet I am flexible to pivot my approach to foster positive outcomes. Peers often seek my advice and I listen with my head and my heart.  My strong communication skills allow me to interpret nonverbal cues along with what is being said. I am organized in my approach and supportive when helping people discover what they need for success. I hope that my passion for learning, teaching, and supporting students continues to be at the core of every interaction.  

My Philosophy

I believe that relationships and trust are the foundation for learning and growing, between teacher and student, teacher and parent, teacher and teacher, teacher and administrator.  Setting up your community where there is collaboration and all voices are heard and appreciated, where mistakes are valued, and taking risks is an option is a piece of the puzzle that must be in place.  As an educator and as an instructional specialist, it is important to me that my colleagues and students know that I am still learning and they have as much to teach me as I have to teach them.  Students and adults alike come and sit with me as we struggle together through a math problem.  As I work along side my peers, I challenge them to rethink their math identity as we plan, analyze student work, co-teach, and model lessons for one another.  

As a Mathematics Instructional Leader, I hope to empower teachers to deepen their understanding of the mathematics they teach.  I want to explore the progressions of the mathematics to grades above and below with educators.  I will encourage them to break away from the workbooks and provide hands-on, open, less scaffold higher demand tasks that allow students to sit in the productive struggle. 

Contact Information: kcapps@pps.net