UNT, Paul Quinn College establish Science and Math Teacher Academy

A partnership between the UNT College of Education and Paul Quinn College in southern Dallas opens the way for the establishment of a federally funded Science and Math (SAM) Teacher Academy at the UNT System Center at Dallas.

Paul Quinn faculty will join with UNT faculty to serve as mentors for SAM academy students. In addition, scholarships will be provided for undergraduate students at Paul Quinn who express an interest in becoming science or math teachers.

Principal project coordinator Diane Allen, UNT associate professor of teacher education and administration and associate dean of the College of Education, says the purpose of the new academy will be to provide advanced training and instruction for teachers who want to improve their skills for helping students in at-risk, low-socioeconomic schools learn and understand science and mathematics. Goals include improving student attitudes toward and achievements in science and math at participating schools.

Other goals of the UNT-Paul Quinn collaboration are to determine the most effective teaching techniques to help teachers improve science and math instruction and to attract more ethnic minority students into teaching science and math. Methods to achieve these and other goals include encouraging family involvement and integrating the use of technology into science and math instruction.

According to faculty and administrators at UNT and Paul Quinn, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison played a key role in getting the federal funding to establish the academy. Her efforts resulted in placing a $200,000 appropriation for the project in the landmark $26.5 billion education bill that was signed into law Jan. 8.

Allen says, "The SAM Teacher Academy will expand teachers' knowledge of inquiry-based instruction, provide opportunities for implementing new strategies and provide strategies to infuse technology into teaching and learning. It also will create a continuing support system and establish a research agenda to study the impact of improved teaching on student learning and attitudes about science."

Allen says the academy will consist of two components — one focusing on training and the other on research.

The training component will involve fifth- and sixth-grade teachers from schools in southern Dallas County. The academy seeks to recruit teachers from schools whose principals have agreed to teacher participation in both components. Program objectives call for recruiting teams of at least two teachers to encourage collaboration and support outside of scheduled class activities during the school year.

Participating teachers will enroll in a one-hour, graduate-level course in the 2002 summer session, a three-hour course in Fall 2002, a three-hour course in Spring 2003 and a final one-hour course in the 2003 summer session. All course work will be offered at the UNT System Center. The first phase of the course work will begin July 15. 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.

Allen says the research component, involving both UNT doctoral students and SAM Teacher Academy participants, will be conducted in two areas. In the first — through action research projects assigned in their courses — the participants will explore the effectiveness and impact of the teacher training on teacher knowledge and skills as well as student attitudes toward science and math. The second research area will explore participants' specific topics of interest.

Jean Keller, dean of the UNT College of Education, says, "The purpose behind the SAM Teacher Academy is to provide direct training in science and math for teachers, to help students and those who want to become teachers. The end result is students in high school who are better trained to enter careers in math and science. There's a shortage of math and science teachers and of people who create a work force in those fields, especially in the state of Texas. This new program responds to that need."

"We welcome this wonderful opportunity to build a partnership with Paul Quinn College that can build tomorrow's technology work force for Texas," she says. "We're not only building future workers, but also the teachers to maintain and educate them."

Weldon J. Walton, vice president for academic affairs at Paul Quinn, says, "This unique program will provide great opportunities for high school students to become aware of the opportunities available in the various career fields related to mathematics, science, engineering and technology."

"Paul Quinn College's partnership with UNT and nonprofit educational organizations in the southern sector of Dallas will target economically disadvantaged students in the area," he explains.

Allen points out that one more important goal will be the development of grant proposals to secure future funding for the SAM Teacher Academy. UNT is seeking funds from private businesses to add approximately 40 additional teachers to the program at a cost of $1,200 for each participant.

BY RODDY WOLPER rwolper@unt.edu

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• UNT parking fees going up for 2002-03 academic year
• UNT establishes doctoral degree in audiology
• UNT counselor education program top in Texas
• Monthly HR orientations available for Spanish-speaking UNT employees
• Staff Council adopts spot for beautification program
• Symposium aids Texas' higher education future
• On the trail: UNT police department adds K-9 unit to patrol force

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