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Councilman Greg Stanton's
My Turn – Ahwatukee Republic News Column
June 2005
Desert Vista’s Great Math Minds
Strong schools are a big part of what makes Ahwatukee Foothills such a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Outstanding programs like Desert Vista High School’s math department are examples of talented, dedicated teachers working with intelligent, motivated students.
As Phoenix moves toward a new economy, we need leaders in the key disciplines of math, engineering and science. As chair of the City Council Education Subcommittee, I am encouraging others to follow a path like Desert Vista’s, training our young people to become leaders for the new economy.
Desert Vista’s math program has once again achieved an amazing level of perfection on critical standardized tests. This past school year, 20 students received perfect “800s” on the SATs and PSATs. That’s one more than the 19 who didn’t miss a question the previous year. These are the tests that help colleges determine what students to accept. The exams also give schools a look at how they are doing. In Desert Vista’s case, the math department is clearly a model of excellence for educators everywhere.
The architect of the success is Larry Strom, the school’s math department chair. Strom oversees 20 other Desert Vista math teachers. He’s taught math for more than 30 years and he and his colleagues get great joy from their students’ successes.
“We feel as good about that as when you’re in the delivery room and see one of your children born,” said Strom. “The minute that kid gets an 800 or close to it, we are right in their ear praising them, and you know they’ll come back and give you more in return, just like in the workplace.”
Desert Vista’s program is becoming a model for math departments around Phoenix and the state. Strom says 35 different schools visited in the past year, and the biggest thing visitors are bringing home is the positive reinforcement that students and teachers receive and give out.
And it’s not just for students who get the top scores.
“We don’t only concentrate on the higher-achieving students,” said Strom. “We focus on the mid-range and remedial students as well. … You meet diverse groups of students with diverse teaching styles.”
The math teaching and learning go beyond the school hours. Strom and his colleagues taught 12,000 before and after school tutoring sessions this year. They hope math opens doors for students.
“I don’t know what all of my students want to do, so I try to give them a toolbox that allows them to go all over the world in a lot of different areas successfully,” said Strom. “And we need parents who can take their kids as far as possible and be able to help their kids with their writing, thinking, problem-solving and math.”
Desert Vista students work hard to meet their teachers’ high expectations. The teachers are not providing a magic pill for churning out perfect test scores - they’re sketching out a path to a lifetime of success.
“We’re holding students accountable in a positive fashion,” said Strom. “I tell them how good their thinking is. I tell them how good their work is. I tell them how good they are. I ask them questions about math and life and make them accountable for answering back and thinking at a high level.”
Desert Vista’s math teachers and students deserve our congratulations and our admiration. They are role models for all of us.
Their blueprint for student success is a remarkable story, with passion for children at its center.
Phoenix City Councilman Greg Stanton represents Ahwatukee Foothills. If you have any questions about any issues, please feel free to call Councilman Stanton's office at 602-262-7491, e-mail greg.stanton@phoenix.gov or visit phoenix.gov/district 6.
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