Math Department Chair Satoia Wright Publishes a Textbook
With her recently released algebra curriculum textbook, Friends Select’s math department chair and middle school math teacher, Satoia Wright, is sharing her passion and expertise to make math programming accessible.
The self-published Algebra in Context was created in collaboration with Friends Select students to reimagine the traditional approach to mathematical education. For Satoia, the project represents years of pedagogic insight that serves as a model for student-centered learning to reshape math education.
The project incorporated Friends Select students in its development to blend traditional textbook learning with modern approaches to education, in which learners are not just readers but also active creators. Students chose algebraic concepts and recorded accompanying videos for each chapter—accessible via QR codes—that provide a deeper discussion about the topic they represent. Each student contributor is also profiled in the book and shares in the project’s potential profits. In this way, Satoia empowered students by recognizing them for their intellectual work and creativity.
The student authors also developed names for each of the algebraic concepts, adding a creative challenge to the process. “What was really interesting to me was bringing in fun and interactive names for concepts. We were tasked with making names that show the true essence of each skill while also being fun for students to read and make them want to work with math on a higher level,” said collaborating author Maya ’30. “Trying to come up with names that describe the topics while also leaving enough intrigue was a bit difficult because we had to try not to make them too corny. In the end, I’m very proud of the names we chose and hope other students will love them.”
This creative facet not only showcases student voices throughout the book but also ensures the content is engaging to its audience. “I appreciated that Tr. Satoia wanted our perspectives on how a textbook should be laid out, because whenever I have to use a standardized high school textbook, it can be bland to look at—there is no creativity, just a set of problems, and in a standardized fashion,” explained student author Jackson ’27. “I genuinely believe that this textbook will help students overcome their fear of math and provide a new perspective on the subject, reducing anxiety. This would be especially beneficial for middle schoolers, who could use it as a tool to feel less intimidated in math classes they will take in high school or later in life.”
A differentiating feature of the textbook is its application of real-world context. Satoia’s inspiration to create a more relevant math curriculum was inspired by her previous role at Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia, where she saw firsthand the frustration of a curriculum that was difficult for students to grasp. With the input of her colleagues, Christian Miskell and Alexis Rylander—both educators at Boys’ Latin—and many brainstorming sessions, the basis for Algebra in Context was formed. “We found students were more engaged when math connected to their lived experiences,” Satoia explained.
In Algebra in Context, students deliver the instruction using real-world issues, such as the Flint, MI, water crisis, healthcare access, and minimum wage. They also received permission to use the data created by the Living Wage Institute in the textbook, which play a significant role in the linear functions unit and the discussion of poverty and living wages in various communities. “Tr. Satoia’s new textbook, which aims to incorporate a sense of creativity and address real-world scenarios, may help students feel more connected to the topic and grasp it better,” Jackson said. “This approach also enables students to feel less anxious when faced with math problems.”
By giving students a voice, providing real-world applications, and challenging traditional learning approaches, Satoia is providing a more engaging, inclusive approach to mathematical education. Through applying algebraic concepts to social issues, the textbook is inviting students to see math as a powerful tool for understanding the world, not just mathematical concepts. “We’re challenging the notion of ‘math people’ and ‘non-math people,’” Satoia said. “Math is about problem solving, not just memorizing formulas.”
Student contributor Maya shares this perspective. “I hope that students will gain an understanding that math is very important in everyday life,” she said. “Most textbooks don’t really show the importance of math, and a lot of students think that it is just a school subject and nothing more. I want this textbook to show students that you don’t stop using math as soon as you get out of school—
it will always be integrated into everyday life.”
