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Shakiyya Bland, EdD, is the Founder of the community-based not-for-profit Center for Universal STEM and Humanities and the LRM Foundation’s Director of Education. She is also the Director of Educational Partnerships at a national math equity policy institute and a director on the board of TODOS: Mathematics for ALL. As a 2020-22 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, Dr. Bland contributed her expertise to both the U.S. Congress and the Executive Office of the U.S. Department of the Interior. With extensive experience as a PreK-12 mathematics educator, district mathematics curriculum instructional coach, she received the honors of 2015 Secondary Educator of the Year, 2019 Champion of Equity, and 2025 Call to Action Impact Award in recognition of dedication to instilling hope, creating change, and advancing equity. She is the author of numerous culturally responsive mathematics lessons, strategies, and research. Her innovative curriculum unit, which explores geometric modeling to address food apartheid and promote food security, was featured in High School Mathematics Lessons to Explore, Understand, and Respond to Social Injustice. She has also partnered with national organizations to develop impactful instructional and family engagement resources. Dr. Bland holds a Bachelor of Science in Education, a Master of Arts in Education specializing in Curriculum Instruction and Mathematics, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership. She remains dedicated to engaging communities in learning that integrates mathematics with culture, experience, and history. Dr. Julitha Rials’ path to the classroom began in Corporate America, where she spent over 15 years in management after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Personnel Administration and an MBA. While she found success in the business world, she felt a deeper calling to make a difference in education. Dr. Rials has spent the past 22 years in education, with a strong focus on mathematics and supporting students with special needs. She has a passion for creating inclusive learning environments where all students can thrive. She holds a Master’s in Special Education and a Doctorate in School Leadership, and is a Certified Equity Facilitator, using her voice and experience to advocate for inclusive, student-centered education. In 2020, she was recognized as the Lawrence Public Schools Secondary Kansas Teacher of the Year, a recognition that reflects her dedication and impact in the classroom. Beyond teaching, Dr. Rials serves as the Finance Director for the LRM Foundation, where she helps lead initiatives that support the community. She also works closely with the foundation’s Educational Director to bring hands-on STEM activities to students across Douglas County, Kansas. Whether she is in a classroom, a boardroom, or at a community event, Dr. Rials brings heart, leadership, and a deep belief that all students deserve to feel seen, supported, and inspired.
Building Family–School Partnerships in Secondary Math is a must-have for all secondary math educators! Engaging secondary students’ families in math education has been a challenge for educators for years. Using entertaining vignettes and multifaceted home learning activities with real-world contexts, Bland and Rials provide practical, research-aligned strategies to help educators actively engage families in supporting students’ growth in mathematics. -- Latrenda Knighten * Baton Rouge, LA * Teacher leaders are educators who set a vision for improving instruction for their students and work collaboratively with colleagues to strengthen teaching practices across their schools. Building Family–School Partnerships in Secondary Math offers accessible and practical frameworks to support this work. It guides teachers in leading efforts that honor the knowledge, experiences, and contributions of students, families, and the broader school community. I highly recommend this book as a study resource for educators who are ready to support meaningful and lasting change in their schools. -- Ayanna D. Perry * Bowie, MD * Shakiyya Bland and Julitha Rials debunk the myth that advanced mathematics belong only in the classroom and to a select few, offering guidance to help educators partner with families to support all teens’ math learning. Educators will come away knowing how to explain classroom instructional practices to families, encourage family math exploration at home and in the community, and advocate for informed decision-making around math pathways. -- Holly Kreider * Sunnyvale, CA * With its focus on families with secondary school children, this book fills an important gap in the field of family engagement in mathematics. Bland and Rials’ deep understanding of adolescence and their knowledge of mathematics education result in powerful prompts and activities, carefully designed to support educators in their work with families. -- Marta Civil * Tucson, AZ * Building Family–School Partnerships in Secondary Math is a must-read for anyone passionate about student success. Their dedication to building genuine family–school partnerships in math shines through every page. They truly hit the mark by showing how connecting with families strengthens learning, equity, and collaboration for every scholar. -- Brittany Harrell * Lawrence, KS * This book is a useful roadmap to foster open dialogue with students and families to create an inclusive environment and promote culturally responsive teaching. It is full of engaging ideas that can be easily implemented in your secondary math classroom. -- Leslie A. Mohlman * Lehi, UT * Building Family-School Partnerships in Secondary Math emphasizes that family engagement is not a surface-level activity, but a core component of effective mathematics instruction. It addresses the often-overlooked link between home and school during adolescence, especially in a content area in which many parents may not feel equipped to fully support their child. -- Kenneth Davis * Fairview Heights, IL * Rooted in real classroom experience, this book provides practical tools for teachers to move past traditional efforts at parent involvement to foster genuine family-school partnerships in support of secondary math. Bland and Rials show how connecting math to students’ real, everyday life can transform engagement and better support every learner. It’s accessible, insightful, and highly relevant for today’s educators. -- Katey Arrington * Austin, TX * This book is a must- read for all secondary math teachers and leaders! Bland and Rials come with a strengths-based lens of students, families, and educators, and provide practical ideas for educators to immediately implement with all families. Educators reading this will be prepared to create truly culturally relevant classrooms, provide families strategies to complement instruction, and include them in important decisions for students across their secondary years. -- Angela Torres * San Diego, CA * Using research and practical strategies—from mathematical language routines to embracing Ubuntu—Building Family-School Partnerships in Secondary Math offers a transformative approach to actively engage families and caregivers as partners during their child’s secondary mathematics journey. -- Denise M. Walston * Chesapeake, VA * Bland and Rials provide a much-needed resource that secondary mathematics educators can use to help parents truly become a part of their students’ secondary mathematics journey. The ""Try This"", vignettes, and tips are ready for teachers to plot a pathway to build partnerships with parents. -- John Staley * Randallstown, MD *
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