Math Specialists Roam South Dakota to Help Elementary Teachers

Roxane M. Dyk’s office is located in the town of Platte, in South Dakota, though in reality, her office is her car. Ms. Dyk estimates she’s spent three out of every four days this fall on the road, putting 1,200 miles on her 2001 Dodge Stratus over a recent 10-day period.

Ms. Dyk is not making sales calls—she’s visiting schools. She’s one of several roving mathematics specialists who work with the state to provide training to elementary teachers, a group of educators who often need considerable help in that subject.

State and local school leaders, as well as professional organizations, have paid increasing attention to improving the math skills of early-grades teachers in recent years. That renewed emphasis has emerged in response to federal testing mandates in elementary school math and also to the recognition that students stand little chance of succeeding in secondary math topics if they flounder in the...