New STEM Professional Development Program Is Launched in Dallas
A new program to equip North Texas K-12 teachers with
the
skills to instruct their students in science, technology, engineering
and math
(STEM) has been launched in Dallas. By the end of the year, more than
160
teachers will be involved in the hands-on professional development
program, the
Kosmos Energy STEM Teacher Institute, organized by the Perot Museum of Nature
and Science.
Nearly 130 teachers at every stage of their careers
will
attend a four-day Summer Academy held at a school in the Dallas area.
That will
be followed up by five weekend sessions throughout the school year. The
teachers involved will get free educational materials from the museum,
the
chance to be involved in special events and mentorship opportunities and
continuing professional credit for the work.
Unlike most professional development programs that
typically
divide teachers up by grade level, the Kosmos Energy STEM Teacher
Institute is
organized by the experience level of the teachers and their comfort with
science subjects — pre-service teachers (those who are still in training
and
have no classroom experience yet), novice teachers, advanced teachers
and
mentor teachers.
The three-year program organized by the museum is
funded in
part by a $450,000 grant from Kosmos
Energy, an oil and gas company, and
$150,000 from the Institute of
Museum and Library Science.
Museum CEO Colleen Walker said the program is vital
to North
Texas because Texas elementary school educators are not required to be
certified in math and science. Since state testing in science doesn't
start
until the fifth grade, STEM subjects traditionally have not been
emphasized in
early grades. Even that much of a slow start can lead to students not
maintaining interests in the subjects as they continue their educational
careers.
"As a result, U.S. students are falling dangerously
behind in
STEM subjects, creating serious concerns for workforce development in
companies
and industries where the U.S. was once a leader," Walker said.
For the last four years, Perot Museum staffers have
offered
Dallas Independent
School District teachers professional training with its
Leaders in Science program. That program will now be folded into the
Kosmos
Energy STEM Teacher Institute.
"Leaders in Science is a tremendous program that
delivered
strong results and taught us a great deal, but the Kosmos Energy STEM
Teacher
Institute takes that concept to a much higher and broader level," Walker
said.
About the Author
Michael Hart is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and the former executive editor of THE Journal.