The PRIME Leadership Framework: Principles and Indicators for Mathematics Education Leaders, March/2010

Learn leadership principles and action indicators essential for equity and excellence in mathematics. The NCSM framework for dialogue and collaborative action includes reproducibles, reflective questions, and additional resources.

The PRIME Leadership Framework describes the leadership principles and action indicators that the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics endorses and that all mathematics education leaders should aspire toward to create equity and excellence in math education for all students.

The PRIME Leadership Framework does not describe or endorse any specific leadership style. The framework is intended to engage leaders in conversations about what should be the focus of individual and collective leadership actions, energy, and effort, and seeks to expand the role of teacher leaders in mathematics education.

PRIME is a what to do document and not a prescriptive how to do or how to be document. Accordingly, the PRIME Framework views leadership responsibility as founded upon three essential themes:

1. Success for every student, teacher, and leader
2. Research-informed teacher actions
3. Teacher collaboration and professional learning

The Framework is based upon the following four essential principles of leadership that drive an improved future for mathematics education:

1. Equity Leadership to ensure high expectations and access to meaningful mathematics learning for every student.
2. Teaching and Learning Leadership to ensure high expectations and access to meaningful mathematics instruction every day.
3. Curriculum Leadership to ensure relevant and meaningful mathematics in every lesson.
4. Assessment Leadership to ensure timely, accurate monitoring of student learning and adjustment of teacher instruction for improved student learning.

About the Author:
The National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM) is an international leadership organization for educators who serve the NCSM vision of excellence and equity for student achievement in mathematics. These leaders include grade-level team leaders, course-level team leaders, department chairs, district or county coaches, site-based teacher leaders, district or provincial curriculum directors, principals, superintendents, college trainers of teacher leaders, and all who work to ensure the success of every child in mathematics.