ECTOR COUNTY, Texas — In a world where children spend more time than ever on devices like iPads and laptops, Ector County ISD is transforming that screen time into valuable learning with a new math program.
ECISD has partnered with Phillips 66 and ST Math, an interactive online platform that gamifies math education. The mission is simple: make math fun and boost student success in the subject.
"We want them to love math. We want them to understand math," said Dr. Lilia Nanez, Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at ECISD. "The exciting piece is that ST Math has been approved by the Texas Education Agency as an excellent program for accelerated instruction. And what's exciting for Ector County ISD is that it's supporting our personalized instruction initiative."
On Thursday, representatives from Phillips 66 and ECISD observed ST Math in action within classrooms, where students eagerly tackled math problems in a game-based format.
“It was awesome to see how many students were playing ST Math with excitement,” said Kayla Merritt, Program Manager for the St. Math and Phillips 66 partnership. "I had one student say, 'I’m regrouping with St. Math,' and I thought, 'Wow, that’s a big kid term!'"
Phillips 66 Vice President of Midstream Operations Bill Johnson shared his impression of the program. “I was really impressed with some of the concepts they’re learning. The visual nature of the program made it fun and interesting, and students were excited to show me their progress. Watching kindergarteners and second graders so enthusiastic about math was pretty fun to see."
Through ST Math, students can move at their own pace, advancing once they’ve mastered each concept. Teachers remain a vital part of the learning experience, ready to assist in bridging any knowledge gaps.
“Throughout our school district, we have general education students, special education students, and emergent bilinguals,” explained Dr. Nanez. “ST Math supports every type of learner, helping each student visualize and grasp mathematical concepts.”
Thanks to the partnership between ECISD, Phillips 66, and ST Math, students in all 28 district elementary schools, including STEM academies, are gaining the confidence and skills they need to succeed. For ECISD students, math is no longer a hurdle—it’s a gateway to becoming future-ready.