Solving For Success

Unionville High School Introduces New Instructional Interventionist

For many students, Algebra I is more than just a class—it’s a crossroads. 

In Pennsylvania, passing the Algebra I Keystone is a graduation milestone every student must reach. More important than that, it is also the moment where math shifts from the concrete world of counting objects to the abstract world of what-ifs.

According to new UHS Math Instructional Interventionist Evan Marabella, Algebra is the essential foundation for anyone planning to enroll in a more advanced math course. "My own AP Calculus teacher used to say that only 10% of the work is actually Calculus. The other 90% is the Algebra behind it,” he reflected. 

Unionville High School Math Department Chair Kevin Long added that Algebra skills aren’t just for the classroom. They’re used by every adult who calculates discounts, compound interest or mortgage costs. 

No matter their goals, Mr. Marabella is now working hand-in-hand with fellow faculty members like Mr. Long to ensure that every student has more support than ever to master this shift.

Marabella dedicates his time to meeting students where they are with hands-on coaching, whether in a class, small group or one-on-one. “A lot of it is behind-the-scenes work looking at data and understanding trends,” he reflected. “For example, if the majority of a class doesn’t score well in a standard, it’s likely something we need to address with our teaching and through some extra practice.” 

The innovation isn't just in how faculty teach, but what they use. The department has recently adopted Delta Math, an online platform that provides real-time data. Instead of waiting for a test, teachers can see which concepts students have already mastered and where they might need more help.

During Lunch & Learn, the team also offers optional sessions on the types of problems specifically expected to be on the Keystone Exams. 
“If an individual student who has historically underperformed grows by even 5%, we celebrate that,” shared Marabella. “Not all students are going to be high-achieving in every subject. You have to recognize the small wins!” 

“Having Mr. Marabella as our Instructional Interventionist allows us to focus on the 'small wins' that lead to major milestones,” agreed UHS Principal Pat Crater. “Evan’s work alongside our math department allows us to be incredibly responsive to the needs of our students, and we are celebrating growth at every level.” 

At the end of the day, Mr. Marabella says it’s less about the content and more about the connection. “I always say that you might not use Algebra in your career, but you can be sure you will work in groups to communicate, collaborate, and think critically,” stated Marabella. “You will need to solve a problem and to persevere through it. These are the skills I try to teach to kids and how I teach them is through math.” 

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Marabella and his colleagues, UHS students will be more successful than ever when they eventually walk across the graduation stage. They’ll carry with them a passing score, the resilience to face any problem and the confidence to solve it.

About the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District
The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District is a high-performing public school system serving approximately 4,000 students in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The District consists of four elementary schools, one middle school and Unionville High School, consistently ranked among the top public schools in Pennsylvania.