High standards
MSU will help advance professional development for K-12 teachers
Issue date: 6/25/08
Section: Campus News
As Minnesota's educational expectations for K-12 continue to rise, newly-required standards and assessments in math and science can put pressure on teachers as well as students.
Minnesota State will play an integral role in decreasing these pressures as the lead institution of a new regional center to improve math and science teaching.
The Minnesota Department of Education announced the initiative in May as a way to increase professional development.
The grant funding this statewide program, which was written by MSU, covers 11 regions throughout Minnesota. Academies will also be located in Thief River Falls, Fergus Falls, Staples, Marshall, Rochester, St. Cloud, Plymouth and Mountain Iron. Each of these centers has been paired with a higher-education establishment in its area, but MSU will be the only university to lead an academy. Partnerships between all levels of education are an important component of the plan.
"After parents, teachers have the biggest impact on student success," Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Seagren said. "The Math and Science Teacher Academy will help to better prepare Minnesota teachers for success in the classroom as they continue to prepare our students for success after high school."
In July, districts will send teams of teachers to be trained in the most successful methods for implementing state standards, catering to specific student learning needs and various instructional styles. The hope is that these trained teachers will go back to their individual school districts and pass their knowledge to colleagues.
According to Dr. Kathleen Foord, coordinator of professional development for MSU's College of Education, training teachers first will have a positive domino effect.
"The academy is designed to help teachers better prepare to help students," Foord said.
The upcoming academy will focus specifically on teaching algebra in a middle school setting.
Minnesota State will play an integral role in decreasing these pressures as the lead institution of a new regional center to improve math and science teaching.
The Minnesota Department of Education announced the initiative in May as a way to increase professional development.
The grant funding this statewide program, which was written by MSU, covers 11 regions throughout Minnesota. Academies will also be located in Thief River Falls, Fergus Falls, Staples, Marshall, Rochester, St. Cloud, Plymouth and Mountain Iron. Each of these centers has been paired with a higher-education establishment in its area, but MSU will be the only university to lead an academy. Partnerships between all levels of education are an important component of the plan.
"After parents, teachers have the biggest impact on student success," Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Seagren said. "The Math and Science Teacher Academy will help to better prepare Minnesota teachers for success in the classroom as they continue to prepare our students for success after high school."
In July, districts will send teams of teachers to be trained in the most successful methods for implementing state standards, catering to specific student learning needs and various instructional styles. The hope is that these trained teachers will go back to their individual school districts and pass their knowledge to colleagues.
According to Dr. Kathleen Foord, coordinator of professional development for MSU's College of Education, training teachers first will have a positive domino effect.
"The academy is designed to help teachers better prepare to help students," Foord said.
The upcoming academy will focus specifically on teaching algebra in a middle school setting.
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