Grant helps science educators

The Regional Math and Science Center at Grand Valley was awarded a grant to fund a new program, Building Science Leaders: Grade Level Facilitators. The nearly $185,000 federal grant allow the center to work intensively with the Wyoming and West Ottawa public school districts to improve science education in those districts.

'We are excited about continuing the ongoing relationship that we have with these two districts,' said Karen Meyers, assistant director of the Regional Math and Science Center.

The award will fund an in-depth, two year program to develop the capacity of elementary-level teachers to effectively implement science curriculum in the districts of West Ottawa in Holland and Wyoming near Grand Rapids.

In each of the districts, two teachers will be selected per elementary building. These program will help these teachers develop the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to help other teachers and students make meaningful gains in science interest, understanding, and achievement. The project will also build relationships among educators.

The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Education's Improving Teacher Quality competitive grant program. The purpose of the grant is to help increase the academic achievement of all students by helping schools and school districts ensure that all teachers are highly qualified to teach. This program builds on the 2000-2002 work of the Regional Math and Science Centers previous Eisenhower Higher Education Grant, Building Science Leaders, which developed building teacher leaders in area school districts.

The program hopes to improve teaching quality and make students more motivated to learn about science. Other benefits would include improved performance on MEAP tests and other standardized tests.

Wyoming Assistant Superintendent Thomas Reeder applauded the program, calling it 'a great opportunity for our teachers to grow in a way that will benefit all of our students.'

'It's a great opportunity for our school to work in partnership with other educational entities —;;;;; in this case, it is an expanded opportunity with Grand Valley State that began more than two years ago,' Reeder said. 'This opportunity will provide an extensive support system to our teachers at the K-5 level that would otherwise not be available.'