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The College of Saint Rose |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, December 3, 2007
CONTACTS: Saint Rose – Lisa Haley Thomson, Benjamin Marvin 518-454-5102 E-mail: marvinb@strose.edu Web: www.strose.edu/news
Troy Schools – Caroline Boardman 518-328-5030 E-mail: boardmanc@troy.k12.ny.us
SAINT ROSE, TROY SCHOOL AIM TO KINDLE INTERESTIN LEARNING MATH AND SCIENCE
The College of Saint Rose and the Enlarged City School District of Troy have teamed up to help schoolchildren from Troy’s inner-city neighborhoods develop a fascination with math and science. Using a new $20,500 grant from the RGK Foundation of Austin, Texas, Saint Rose faculty will train teachers at Troy’s School 12 in problem-based learning methods that are designed to spark student interest in learning math and science. Saint Rose will offer four in-service teacher workshops over a two-year period at which School 12 teachers will learn the newest innovations in teaching math and science that focus on “hands-on” instruction. Classroom science and math kits and training provided to the participants will ensure the integration of activities in the classrooms for years to come. In addition, participants’ students will be encouraged to attend a wide variety of science outreach activities sponsored by Saint Rose. The curricula and outreach activities were developed by the College’s Institute for Science and Mathematics Education. The institute’s mission is to develop, implement and disseminate innovative strategies and programs for improving instruction in science and math at all levels. “Research shows that if we don’t connect children to science and math by the fifth grade, we may never gain their interest in these all-important fields. This outreach project will enable us to engage Troy schoolchildren early on and, hopefully, spark a child’s desire to become a future shaper of Tech Valley. That the RGK Foundation shares our goal is most gratifying,” said Dr. Richard Thompson, dean of the Saint Rose School of Mathematics and Sciences. “Through the RGK Foundation grant, our partnership with The College of Saint Rose provides an additional path along which faculty and students from the School 12 community can become leaders and pioneers in the many different career fields associated with math and science,” said Tracy Ford, principal of School 12 in Troy. -MORE- -2-
Regional and national K-12 student scores in sciences and math are falling at a troubling rate, with a resulting impact on the nation’s global competitiveness. Responding to this trend, organizations such as the National Academies stress that better preparation of K-12 teachers and the development of stronger content in science and math programs will help reverse the decline. Further, the National Center for Educational Statistics estimates that 66 percent of the country’s K-12 teachers are expected to retire or stop teaching between 2002 and 2012, requiring U.S. schools to fill 1.7 million-2.7 million teaching positions. In 2006, Saint Rose established the Institute for Science and Mathematics Education to address these issues. Led by Dr. Thompson, the institute focuses on developing partnerships with educators and professional associations, professional development for teachers, and supporting research. The Institute provides science outreach activities in those urban school districts classified by the New York State Department of Education as “at risk” or “need of improvement.” Current outreach programs include the Joseph Henry Science Fair for elementary and middle school children, the Science Olympiad, the annual Lab Day for middle and high school science teachers, and the New York State Science Congress. ********** To view this announcement online, go to www.strose.edu/news. The College of Saint Rose Experts Directory is available online at www.strose.edu/experts.
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