The Department of Teaching & Learning is responsible for envisioning, planning, and directing the implementation of curriculum and instruction, assessment, and professional learning in the Newton Public Schools.  In addition to Curriculum Coordinators, each of whom specializes in a specific content area, our department includes Home Education, English Language Learning Program, Newton METCO, the Creative Arts and Sciences Program, the Calculus Project, Newton School Volunteers, and the New Educator Induction and Mentoring Program. Together, we support educators in our daily efforts to ensure academic excellence, educational equity, and social-emotional wellbeing for all our students.

Through collective action and reflection, we will develop all students' social, emotional and academic competencies so that race and other forms of identity are not predictors of academic success.

Every day, NPS educators actively build and sustain culturally responsive learning communities dedicated to nurturing all students' social, emotional and academic competencies so that each develops into an independent and life-long learner.

Curriculum Coordinators collaborate with High School Department Heads to:

• Align Newton Public Schools’ curriculum to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks incorporating the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics and English Language Arts, and the Next Generation Science Standards.
• Align Newton Public Schools’ curriculum to research-based, nationally vetted standards in addition to Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks as appropriate.
• Ensure that skills, concepts and topics build sequentially from one grade to the next.
• Review programs and practices to reflect current research, and to ensure cultural breadth and educational efficacy.
• Organize and deliver professional learning that for teachers and support staff
• Enhance teachers’ expertise by providing multiple opportunities for teacher collaboration across schools, through professional development experiences and curriculum development work.
• Ensure that each teacher is well equipped to guide all students to mastery of curriculum content by providing culturally responsive unit designs, lesson plans, instructional materials, assessments, and specialized materials.
• Guide and support teachers and administrators in the implementation of research-based, culturally responsive instructional practices
• Collaborate with Special Educators and teachers of English Language Learners to maximize accessibility for every student.
• Review multiple data sources for evidence of the efficacy of our curriculum and instruction, and make appropriate adjustments.
• Supervise and evaluate teachers in either a primary or supporting role
• Provide leadership and curriculum and instructional perspective on district, inter-district, and state committees and advisory boards

Together, coordinators, teachers and administrators actively cultivate a culture of equity and excellence by creating and sustaining curriculum and instructional practices that lead to high quality learning for each and every student.