Ms. Sanding, Math Department Chair, has spent the past several years leading a transformation in how students experience math. Cristo Rey De La Salle has participated in The Silicon Valley Math Initiative, a leader in innovative mathematics education, serving schools and districts across California and the United States. Through national professional learning, classroom innovation, and a strong belief in student voice, the Math Department at Cristo Rey is changing both outcomes and confidence.
Q: Ms. Sanding, what has shaped your approach to math instruction?
“In 2022, I was invited to join a Cristo Rey Network cohort focused on improving math instruction,” she shared. “Over the past five years, that work has taken me to the Twin Cities, Oklahoma, Dallas, Tampa, San Jose, and Chicago. Those experiences were completely transformative. They changed the way I think about teaching math.”
With a background in Ethnic Studies, Ms. Sanding approaches math through a lens of equity and empowerment. “I see math as a tool for social justice,” she explained. “It’s not about the teacher being the sole holder of knowledge. It’s about students discovering ideas, talking through problems, and making meaning together.”
Q: What does this look like in the classroom?
“You’ll see a lot of group work and student discussion,” she said. “We try to live by the idea, ‘Never say something your students can say.’ Students are explaining their thinking, challenging each other respectfully, and learning from mistakes.”
This approach has changed student attitudes. “We’re seeing more openness to productive struggle and far less fear of being stuck,” Ms. Sanding noted. “Students are becoming comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity. That challenges the old idea that math is just right or wrong. How you see a problem is shaped by your experiences, and that matters.”
Q: What impact are you seeing on student outcomes?
“Our students are performing above grade level, and more importantly, they can explain their reasoning,” she said. “They’re not just getting answers, they understand the ‘why.’”
Many students now pursue engineering and other STEM-related fields. “We’re moving away from simply teaching what to do and how to do it,” she added. “We’re building deeper conceptual understanding that prepares students for college and beyond.”
Q: How does the department support such a diverse student body?
“Our students come from over 30 different middle schools,” Ms. Sanding explained. “That means a wide range of preparation. We take an asset-based approach and design every lesson so there are access points for all learners.”
Through summer bridge and summer school programs, the department helps students transition successfully into advanced coursework. “We design tasks so students can enter math in different ways,” she said. “That builds confidence while still holding high expectations.”
Q: What makes this work sustainable?
“A supportive professional culture,” she answered. “New teachers receive regular training, and we collaborate constantly around best practices like math talk routines and formative assessment. We use student thinking to guide our instruction in culturally responsive ways, especially in geometry and advanced classes.”
Q: What’s next for the Math Department?
“We’re looking to grow,” Ms. Sanding shared. “We hope to expand our team with educators who believe in transformative math education for the 2026–2027 school year.” If you are interested in the position check out the job posting here
And her ultimate hope for students? “I want them to leave knowing that math matters,” she said. “That they can be critical consumers of information, capable problem-solvers, and confident in their ability to do hard things.”
Thanks to donor support, this vision is becoming a reality – one classroom, one conversation, and one student at a time.
Ms.Sanding is such a great educator, last year she was the inaugural winner of the Cristo Rey Network ‘Outrageously Bold Award’ for https://www.cristoreynetwork.org/impact/news/news-details/~board/news-posts/post/bold-awards. She also moderates the school National Honors Society and is a member of the Instructional Leadership Team and the Math point person for the Silicon Valley Math Project.
Fun Fact: Ms Sanding is also a Warrior Fan and recently attended a Dubs game with students as well as being featured in the Golden Gate Foundation Free Throw For Good Video shared at the game . Read more here…