Mid-school Math and Science Academy launched
Contact: Kay Roybal, k_roybal@lanl.gov, (505) 665-0582 (00-111)
LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Aug. 7, 2000 -- Two Northern
New Mexico teachers, backed by a distinguished group of educators
and scientists, this week will begin blazing a trail to excellence
in math and science education for their students.
A pilot middle school Math and Science Academy, the brainchild
of the Northern New Mexico Council on Excellence in Education
will focus in its inaugural year on three Northern New Mexico
middle schools whose applications for the program identified them
as appropriate for this effort to improve math and science education.
Carol Brown of Santa Fe and Patsy Alvarado of Espanola -- the
program's first two Master Teachers -- will work with twelve 7th
grade teachers from Espanola, Chama and Mora middle schools to
build math and science curricula as part of the education initiative.
They also will serve as the program's ambassadors in their communities
and, ultimately, throughout Northern New Mexico .
Eventually, the network of master teachers, teachers-in-training
and, eventually, student teachers that begins with Brown and Alvarado
will form the backbone of the Mathematics and Science Academy
, designed to provide students with sound preparation in math,
science and technology. The launch of the Academy is a primary
goal of the Council.
The Council was created by community leaders with the support
of the University of California and the Department of Energy's
Los Alamos National Laboratory, and is chaired by
Kurt Steinhaus, head of the Lab's Education Program Office. The Council supports
and collaborates with Northern New Mexico Community College, Santa Fe
Community College, Luna Vocational Technical Institute, the University
of New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands University, Northern New Mexico school
superintendents, the New Mexico Math, Engineering, and Science Advancement
program, business leaders and community representatives. The Council's
purpose is to serve as a catalyst and advocate for quality educational
improvement in Northern New Mexico.
"New Mexico Highlands is extremely proud to be part of this
important middle school initiative," said Selimo Rael, president
of Highlands and a member of the Council. "We expect that
in future years we'll be able to include all of the middle schools
in Northern New Mexico in this drive to math and science excellence
in our schools."
The Math and Science Academy teachers will spend two weeks this
month at Espanola Valley High School in intense professional development,
discussing curricula and instructional methods and planning for
the coming school year. The program also will assign as many student
teachers as possible to the classrooms of the participating teachers,
and promote parent involvement.
During this first program year, a baseline database will be created
to track how well the Academy program meets its goals and objectives.
There will be a mid-year review of student, teacher and student-
teacher progress in January, and an end-of-year evaluation of
student performance on standardized tests and responses from parents,
students and teachers on surveys.
The Academy's missions are to provide sound preparation in
math and science, decrease the number of students who drop out
of school, increase the pool of qualified teachers and give graduates
the skills they need to achieve their potential in the current
flourishing economy.
"Student test scores and teacher competency surveys reveal
a tremendous need for improving student achievement and teacher
preparation in Northern New Mexico," Rael said. "The
Academy is intended to address that need."
Twenty-four Northern New Mexico middle schools submitted applications
for the program. In a highly competitive process, members of the
Council selected the three pilot schools based primarily on their
degree of need and their degree of commitment.
Brown and Alvarado were chosen from nearly 50 applicants through
interviews conducted by members of the Academy steering committee.
"The committee was looking for a number of specific skills
and qualities," said Steinhaus. "We required experience
developing math curricula, ability to provide professional development
to peers, knowledge of standards and reform initiatives, proficiency
in the use of technology in education and experience with middle
school students. It was a tough process, but we're confident we
made excellent choices in Carol Brown and Patsy Alvarado."
Council members say they hope the Math and Science Academy
will be the first step in bringing systemic change in Northern
New Mexico schools and colleges and an increasing emphasis on
math and science achievement. The Academy also will serve as a
national model for improving math, science and technology education
in rural communities.
"The Laboratory is eager to participate in this program because
it will help our neighbors and give their children the skills
and training they will need to achieve their dreams to the fullest,
" said Joe Salgado, deputy Laboratory director for Business,
Administration and Outreach.
The Laboratory is supporting the Academy by funding its project
director, the two master teachers, technology assessments for
the participating schools and through its equipment gifting program.
Air Force Phillips Lab, Goals 2000 and the Los Alamos Foundation
have also given grants to the program. The program is currently
funded at nearly $500,000.
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