Academy wins federal funds

Thanks to a federal appropriation secured by U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, additional funding has been awarded to the UNT Science and Math (SAM) Teacher Academy.

A joint venture between the UNT System and Paul Quinn College in Dallas, SAM will receive $250,000 to help teachers improve their skills in teaching science and mathematics. The funding will support advanced training for fifth- and sixth-grade teachers to benefit students from at-risk, low-socioeconomic schools in southern Dallas County and surrounding districts.

"We are most appreciative of the leadership and vision of Congresswoman Johnson in helping the UNT Dallas Campus and Paul Quinn College to solidify funding for this most important initiative," says John Price, vice provost for the UNT Dallas Campus.

Diane Allen, director of SAM and associate dean of UNT's College of Education, says SAM will not only influence education, but will also affect the North Texas economy.

"There's a shortage of math and science teachers and a trained work force in those fields in the state of Texas," she says. "SAM has a proven record of helping teachers learn how to improve student attitudes toward science and math."

With improved attitudes, students learn better, retain more and maintain an interest in these subjects, she says, which fosters the pursuit of careers. Allen also says additional funds for SAM may help to broaden the scope of the academy.

"We hope to expand the program to other grade levels, increase the number of teachers involved and offer the program to other districts, including rural areas," she says.

The academy currently recruits teachers from schools in which principals have agreed to teacher participation in the course work and research components of the academy. In its effort to encourage collaboration and support outside of scheduled class activities, the program calls for recruiting teams of two teachers from each school participating in SAM.

Academy students will enroll in a three-hour course in Fall 2004 and a three-hour course in Spring 2005. All course work will be offered at the UNT Dallas Campus.

In their classroom work, participating teachers will explore state-mandated expectations in science and math in light of recommendations of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the National Science Teachers' Association.

For more information about SAM, contact Allen at (940) 565-2121.

BY CATHY CASHIO ccashio@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• UNT to present gala celebration Feb. 14 to honor 50 years of desegregation
• Gift creates UNT euphonium endowment
• Equity, diversity workshop set
• Staff Council discusses insurance changes
• New UNT research center uncovers secrets of plants
• UNT performance of oratorio set for Jan. 29
• UNT to present films from eight countries during series
• Markley accepted into Leadership Texas
• 'Star man' fronts musically diverse band Crawfish

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