Math Miniseries, Episode 1

Putting teacher voices at the center of math adoption, starring Matt Cash

In the first episode of a special Beyond My Years two-part math series, Ana chats with Matt Cash, director of elementary curriculum and instruction for Lake Elsinore Unified School District in California, about math leadership and change management. Matt shares his experiences helping move his district from a localized approach to a unified system to provide centralized resources, professional development, and assessment. Together, Matt and Ana discuss the importance of listening to educators during adoption processes, the power of creating systems that support teachers, and the best ways to build unity around instructional approaches. Matt also shares practical advice for educators navigating curriculum reviews and pilots. Before the episode’s end, Ana is joined by Classroom Insider Eric Cross, who reflects on how teachers can use their voices early in adoption processes, pilot with fidelity, and give themselves grace during implementation.

A man with a beard in a suit and tie smiles against a gray background, framed by a circular border with a pattern of books, stars, and apples—perfect for celebrating high quality instruction in any math classroom.

Meet Our Guest(s):

A man with short dark hair and a beard, wearing a suit and tie, smiles at the camera in front of a gray background, reflecting his passion for high quality instruction in the math classroom.

Matt Cash

Matt Cash is the director of elementary curriculum and instruction for Lake Elsinore Unified School District, where he supports schools in designing engaging, high-quality learning experiences for all students. A former classroom teacher, staff developer, principal, and assistant director of math, he brings a deep understanding of instruction, assessment, and leadership to his work with educators. He has spoken at multiple conferences about mathematics, leadership, and curriculum, and he’s passionate about helping educators create systems that get results.

Meet our host, Ana Torres.

Ana has been an educator for 30 years, working in both the K–8 and higher education sectors. She served as an administrator and instructor at various public and private colleges and universities and as a bilingual and dual language teacher, dual language math and reading interventionist, dual language instructional coach, assistant principal, and principal in K–8 schools. Ana is currently the Senior Biliteracy and Multilingual Product Specialist at Amplify, and delivers literacy and biliteracy presentations across the nation. Ana’s passion and advocacy for biliteracy and support for all students from all walks of life has led her to educate leaders, teachers, and parents about the positive impact of bilingualism and biliteracy in our world.

A woman with long dark hair and hoop earrings smiles at the camera while wearing a black blazer, standing outdoors—ready to discuss classroom challenges or share insights on her teacher podcast.

A man with short, closely-cropped hair and a trimmed beard smiles at the camera against a light gray background, ready to inspire diverse learners in the math classroom.

Meet our Classroom Insider, Eric Cross.

Eric Cross is a middle school science teacher who hopes to someday be a lifelong educator, like the guests on Beyond My Years! In each episode, Eric connects with host Ana Torres to discuss her guests’ best insights, gleaned from their long and rewarding careers in the classroom. Then, Eric talks about bringing some of their wisdom into his current classroom and busy life.