Dustin Purdy (he/him)

In my latest blog post, “Unraveling the Mystery of 3.14... and Beyond!”, I explore the joy of π and invite students to experience it through curiosity, pattern-seeking, and mathematical wonder. I also invite students to explore applications in STEM with a NASA Receiver Riddle challenge. From circles to infinite decimals, this post digs into ways to make π meaningful, engaging, and deeply connected to student thinking. bit.ly/4bii43l #Pi #Math #PiDay #MathCuriosity #MiddleSchoolMath #MathEducation #ITeachMath #MathTeacherBoS

I recently joined Nicole Hamilton and Lucas Owen as a panelist in a webinar titled “An AI-Resistant Approach to Teaching Statistics,” which explored how statistics instruction must evolve in a world where generative AI can quickly perform calculations and produce answers. Rather than focusing on limiting AI, the conversation centered on designing learning experiences that emphasize human reasoning, curiosity, and authentic data exploration. Read full blog post here and access the webinar recording and resources. bit.ly/47H3n7D #statistics #statisticseducation #dataliteracy #datascience #ai

Equity is not just a goal—it’s a commitment that shapes everything I do as both a math educator and Community & Belonging Coordinator. Equity is about building a culture where every student feels seen, valued, and supported. It’s about amplifying voices, fostering empathy, and creating spaces where students can bring their full selves into their learning. When students feel they belong, they engage more deeply, take more risks, and grow more confidently. In mathematics, equity means ensuring that every student has access to meaningful, grade-level learning experiences. It means moving beyond one-size-fits-all instruction and instead creating opportunities where all students can explore, question, and make sense of mathematics in ways that honor their identities, experiences, and voices. Every student deserves to see themselves as a mathematician. Equity is at the heart of powerful teaching and meaningful community. It’s how we ignite potential, cultivate joy in learning, and ensure that every student not only has access—but truly has the opportunity to thrive. 💙 #Equity #Belonging #EquityInEducation #MathForAll #StudentVoice #InclusiveEducation

To all of my students, families and friends celebrating Eid al-Fitr, I want to extend my warmest wishes to you today. This special day marks the end of Ramadan—a time of reflection, compassion, generosity, and growth. As you celebrate, may your day be filled with joy, gratitude, and connection with loved ones. Whether through prayer, sharing meals, giving to others, or spending time in community, Eid reminds us of the importance of kindness, empathy, and giving back—values that strengthen our global school community. 💫 Wishing you peace, happiness, and countless blessings today and always. Eid Mubarak! 🌙💙 #EidMubarak #DwightGlobal #CommunityAndBelonging #GlobalCitizenship

What does equity in the middle grades really look like? On World Day of Social Justice, we are reflecting on the importance of creating learning environments where every young adolescent has access to meaningful opportunities. As an essential attribute of a Successful Middle School, being equitable means providing socially just learning opportunities and environments for every student. In this short clip, AMLE Equity in the Middle Grades Constituent Committee member Dustin Purdy shares what equity means in his school community and why it matters for young adolescents. When middle schools are equitable, students do more than succeed. They experience belonging. #WorldDayOfSocialJustice

Did you know AMLE members can earn four hours continuing education for completing the self-paced Successful Middle School Course Series? The course explores each of the essential attributes and characteristics of a successful middle school in a self-paced, virtual format with exercises and reflections throughout to help learners understand how to realize and embed these principals in their daily practice. Complete these individually or together as a team based on your learning preference. amle.org/smsonline

📢We are pleased to be sharing some BIG NEWS for educators serving students in the middle grades! Today marks the launch of a new reciprocal membership program between @amle and @naesp. 🙌🙌 This new initiative gives eligible members of one organization access to complimentary membership in the other, for access to even more resources, professional learning, leadership tools, publications, and networking opportunities tailored to elementary and middle-level educators. Whether you're focused on young adolescents (10-15) with AMLE or supporting pre-K through 8th grade principals with NAESP, this collaboration strengthens support across the continuum and encourages greater collaboration in our field. ➡️Read the press release: ow.ly/nrFF50YvmKn ➡️Learn more about reciprocal membership: amle.org/naesp-membersh… 🫵Tag a colleague to share this awesome opportunity!

🔵🥧 Happy Pi Day! (3.14) 🥧🔵 Today (March 14) we celebrate one of mathematics’ most famous constants: π (pi) — the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. No matter the size of the circle, this ratio is always the same, beginning with 3.1415926535… and continuing infinitely without repeating! Pi Day is more than just digits and pie—it’s a celebration of curiosity, problem-solving, and the beauty of mathematics. As we wrap up our St. Jude Math-a-Thon, our students are using math not only to explore patterns and puzzles, but also to make a real-world impact through service learning. Math has the power to change the world—and today we celebrate the joy, wonder, and community that mathematics brings. @stjude@StJude @stjude @dwightglobal #PiDay #StJude #math #iteachmath

Over the past few weeks, our community has truly shown the power of strength in numbers, helping to ignite hope for children and families through our St. Jude Math-a-Thon. Your efforts, generosity, and problem-solving spirit have made a meaningful difference! To celebrate the incredible impact of this service project, we’re wrapping things up with a special Pi Day event filled with fun competitions and engaging activities you won’t want to miss. Students who attend will also earn House Points! We are especially honored to welcome Sara Bucciero, Math-a-Thon Program Owner at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, who will join us as a guest speaker to share how our collective sparks are making a real difference for children and families around the world. Join us Friday, March 13 at 10:30 am ET in the All-School Meeting Room during Fun Friday Clubs. You won't want to miss this event! @stjude #piday #stjude #mathathon

Today we celebrate the achievements, leadership, and resilience of women and girls around the world. From groundbreaking scientists and mathematicians to educators, activists, artists, and innovators, women continue to shape a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future. International Women’s Day is also a time to reflect on the importance of equity, opportunity, and empowerment, ensuring that all women and girls have the support and access they need to learn, lead, and thrive. #InternationalWomensDay #EmpowerWomen

📊 Free Live Webinar: An AI-Resistant Approach to Teaching Statistics I’m excited to be joining Nicole Hamilton and Lucas Owen as a panelist for an upcoming webinar - hosted by Simpler Math, exploring how we can design statistics instruction that remains meaningful in an AI-rich world. As AI tools become more prevalent, statistics classrooms have an important opportunity to emphasize what technology cannot replace: statistical reasoning, critical thinking, and interpreting data to make sense of the world. During this conversation, we’ll discuss approaches that focus on authentic data investigations, student sense-making, and building strong statistical thinking—skills that empower students to engage thoughtfully with data in the age of AI. 🗓 March 12 ⏰ 1:30 – 2:30 PM EST 🎥 Webinar link: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regist… If you teach statistics, data science, or mathematics, we hope you’ll join us for this conversation! #StatisticsEducation #MathEducation #DataScienceEducation #AIinEducation #EdChat #TeachingStatistics

🧮💙 2026 Dwight Global St. Jude Math-a-Thon is Here! 💙🧮 We are excited to launch our annual Math-a-Thon in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital! This is our third annual Math-a-Thon and thanks to our incredible community, we have already raised over $12,000 for St. Jude! Over the next few weeks, students will engage in fun, grade-level math challenges while raising funds to support children battling life-threatening illnesses. Through this powerful service-learning experience, our community is proving that math can make a real-world impact. ✨ Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food. ✨ Every problem solved helps raise awareness and hope. ✨ Every donation helps fuel life-saving research. Let’s come together to ignite purpose through problem-solving and show how our Dwight Global community leads with heart. @StJude @StJudeResearch Register or support our fundraiser here 👇👇👇bit.ly/4l8V9Le #MathAThon #DwightGlobal #ServiceLearning #IgniteThePath #StJude

Curious how we can better prepare students for an AI-powered future? Join @TheLearningAgency for an AMA with DS4E ED @ZarekDrozda on Feb 9, 3–4pm ET. We’ll talk AI skills, data science across K–12, and real-world learning. Register: hubs.li/Q041Gtdf0

Dwight Global is pleased to announce that our annual Voices in Action Week will take place Monday, January 19 through Friday, January 23. Centered around Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Voices in Action is a meaningful school-wide experience that brings together classroom learning, dialogue, and reflection around issues of social justice and civic engagement. This year’s theme, “Voices Rising for Justice,” invites students to explore issues of justice through inquiry and discussion, reflect on lived experiences, and use their voices to advocate for fairness and inclusion in thoughtful and impactful ways. Throughout the week, students will participate in age-appropriate activities designed to build empathy, critical thinking, and a sense of agency. We look forward to a powerful week of learning, dialogue, and action, and we hope families will join us in celebrating and supporting our students as their voices rise for justice. #viaweek #voicesinaction #dwightglobal

Today we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose courage, vision, and unwavering commitment to justice continue to guide us. Dr. King reminded us that change happens when we use our voices, our actions, and our hearts to stand up for what is right. #mlk #mlkjr #mlkday

Big news 🎉 The nation’s first K–12 Data Science Learning Progressions are LIVE! But what are they? They’re: 📊 A clear roadmap for teachers 📉 Arriving as NAEP math scores drop 🤖 Built to prep every student for a data-driven future 🔗Explore at hubs.li/Q03HLLTT0

🌍 SDG of the Week: #SDG1 – No Poverty Through the Global Schools Program, students learn how ending #poverty connects to education, opportunities, and dignity for all. Together, young global citizens are exploring ways to leave no one behind. #GlobalSchools #NoPoverty #ESD