The Math and Science Partnership Program at Delta State University
recently hosted two groups of K-12 educators to help
improve teacher quality in the areas of mathematics and science.The Math and Science Partnership Program (MSP) at Delta State University strives to improve teacher quality through partnerships between state education agencies, institutions of higher education, high-need local education agencies and schools to increase the academic achievement of students in mathematics and science.
MSP is a formula grant program to the states, with the size of individual state awards based on student population and poverty rates. With these funds, Mississippi is responsible for administering a competition which grants are made to partnerships to improve the content knowledge and teaching skills of K-12 mathematics and science teachers.
Project director, Kathleen Lott, is thrilled with the program’s progress.
“The excitement of professional learning is present and it is a privilege to be a part of this program partnered by Delta State University and the school districts involved,” said Lott.
Beginning in 2013, the College of Education and Human Sciences at Delta State was awarded a three-year MSP grant to provide professional development for middle school math teachers. Their program includes a two-week intensive summer institute, three Saturday sessions throughout the following school year, a monthly online discussion, and tri-annual observations during the school year.
Delta State’s MSP offers their program to two cohorts of 20 participants. The participants all teach middle school math. Districts participating this summer are: Cleveland, West Tallahatchie, West Bolivar Consolidated, Greenwood Public, Sunflower County Consolidated, Carroll County, Western Line, Leflore County, Clarksdale Municipal, Vicksburg Warren, North Bolivar Consolidated, Coahoma County, Jackson Public, Marion County, and Humphreys County. Additionally, represented is Presbyterian Day School of Cleveland, Miss. and St. Joseph Catholic School of Greenville, Miss.
The leadership of the program includes directors Lott and Elizabeth Belenchia; David Hebert, instructor on record and curriculum co-developer; Liza Cope, instructor, curriculum co-developer and webmaster; and instructors Laura Little, Patrick Evans and Pam Tucker.
Institutional and community partners include, Dr. Clifton Wingard, Ann Huber, coach Mike Kinnison, Shannon Lamb, Michael Aguzzi, Lee Virden, Kathy Rasche and Delta Area Association for Improvement of Schools, which has supported the program with planning initiatives and presentations.
Each day, participants are engaged with interactive lessons and investigations that reinforce both the MS College and Career Readiness Standards and best pedagogical practices for implementing and assessing these standards. The focus the first year, 2013, was number operations and algebraic thinking. The second year’s focus was geometry and measurement, and this year’s focus is probability and statistics. In addition to obtaining a plethora of exemplar activities that they can use in their classrooms, participants are also provided with a variety of hands-on teaching resources.
Participants’ survey evaluations of the program thus far have been stellar. Eddie Butler said, “MSP has definitely been rewarding. I have enjoyed MSP because of the professional development, not just the incentives. The knowledge I gained in this program is priceless. Throughout the three years I was involved with MSP, the three R’s — Rigor, Relevance and Repetition — have been enforced thoroughly.”
Maria Bouton added, “I will always remember Delta State’s Math and Science Institute as F^4: (Fun)(Food)(Fellowship)(Fundamentals of Mathematics) = more knowledgeable education for all students. Instructors also rave about the program.”
Laura Little said, “Everyone is enjoying the institute. The instructors are committed to presenting the participants with powerful hands-on lessons and activities that they can take back to their classrooms to increase teacher impact and student success. They learn strategies that focus on real world problem solving with fellow teachers and discuss the challenges of meeting the needs of their students. It helps them to formulate a plan to teach the MS College and Career Readiness Standards for their grade level.”
