Nov. 14 – ST Math and Phillips 66 announced a new partnership with Ector County ISD to support the implementation of ST Math on Thursday at LBJ Elementary School.
A press release describes ST Math as a visually appealing, game-based learning program. It has been successful in improving students’ math comprehension and performance.
With students, teachers, ECISD officials and ST Math representatives, Phillips 66 presented a $1.1 million check to the district to get the program started and for training and implementation. Principal Zenovia Crier said this is the first year the campus has used ST Math.
But it will be implemented on all K-12, preschool and kindergarten campuses, plus the STEM academy.
The group from Phillips 66, ST Math and ECISD visited classrooms and spoke to students about the program. LBJ has 481 students in grades kindergarten through 5, Crier said.
Crier said her teachers are participating because they have read the research. The classroom atmosphere with Gamma Beats – ambient music – and only one attendance bell keeps students calm and has helped improve behaviour, she added.
“We have a lot of incentives that we offer kids to get started with the program. They’re rarely off task because they want to earn those points,” Crier said.
Students can earn candy, snacks and even field trips.
“We have come to an agreement with the teachers that every child deserves a good education. With a program that you finance, that helps us. The children come to school, they want to be part of what we do as a team. Mathematics is a big part of,” says Crier.
During the classroom visits, the group saw students being pulled into small groups called Knights of the Round Table. Knights are LBJ’s mascot.
“It’s called the Knights of the Round Table, because everyone gets an intervention tailored to his or her level. It’s not the whole group that teaches. We don’t do that very often here, because, again, what works is small group, personalized instruction. That’s what we do on our campus,” Crier said.
Year 2 teacher Kirsten Molby said ST Math challenges and encourages the students.
It also helps the students academically.
“If they don’t get it the first time, it sets them back and overall I like how it challenges them and it kind of caters to where they are at their level,” Molby said.
Maya Black, a 7-year-old second-grader in Molby’s class, said she likes the program and that it helps her understand it more easily.
Kayla Merritt, program manager for ST Math, said the program has been around for 29 years and is nationwide.
“Odessa is our newest district with the Phillips 66 partnership,” Merritt said.
She added that Phillips 66 recently acquired the DCP Permian Basin area.
“As part of their philanthropic mission, we received a list of ISDs (independent school districts) in this area and Ector County said yes,” Merritt said.
She added that she currently supports eight other districts in Texas. They use STAAR data to track student growth.
“All districts have shown positive growth. Hopefully we will see that in Ector as well,” Merritt said.
The grant will last three years, but will be extended if there is a good partnership, Merritt said.
The $1.1 million is for the first year, but will likely be around $400,000 after that.
The partnership marks the beginning of Phillips 66’s broader involvement with ECISD schools, with ST Math serving as a foundational element, according to a news release.
“By working with educators, parents and community leaders, Phillips 66 aims to provide resources that promote a positive learning environment and inspire students to reach their full potential,” the release said.
Interim Superintendent Keeley Boyer said math is much more than numbers.
“It encourages critical thinking and problem solving. We are extremely grateful for this donation from Phillips 66, which will provide our elementary students with access to accelerated math education in a fun, engaging format. We know children will enjoy it and our community will enjoy it.” will ultimately benefit from it,” Boyer said in the release.
Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Lilia Nanez said it was an honor to work with the community.
“The support we get from our businesses is why we are here to serve the children you see here and the almost 34,000 students we have here in Ector County,” Nanez said.
Nanez added that in conversations with Phillips 66 executives, they wanted to hire the students because of the math they saw them doing.
Bill Johnson, vice president of operations at Phillips 66, said they were happy to visit the school. He added that it was “really nice” to see the students getting excited about math and reiterated that these could be future employees.
“We’re happy to have the opportunity to be here and participate, to see the energy and see what you’re all doing… (We’re) happy to be working with you on this. It’s really great, Johnson said.
