Northcoast Mathematics & Science Initiative: Programs

HSU Press Release February 6, 2004

Nearly $1 Million Math/Science Grant to HSU, Schools

ARCATA - Three Humboldt State University faculty members and their local school partners have received a three-year, $909,659 federal grant to recruit, prepare and retain highly qualified secondary mathematics and science teachers in the five county redwood region. The project is one of 17 that were funded statewide this year.

Dr. Chris Hopper, Associate Dean, Teacher Education, Dr. Jeffrey White, Biological Sciences Professor and Dr. Phyllis Chinn, Mathematics Professor are the principal investigators of the project known as the Northcoast Mathematics and Science Initiative (NMSI).

Core project partners include Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) and Eureka City Schools (ECS). Debra Kingshill, Personnel Director for HCOE, serves as a Local Education Agency Co-director and Valerie Gardner, Curriculum Specialist for ECS, is a member of the leadership team. The HSU Center for Educational Excellence, Collaboration and Inquiry, directed by Dr. Cathleen Rafferty, is assisting with project development. Jacoby Creek School teacher Diana Skiles and Arcata High School teacher Shannon Morago will provide science teaching expertise.

The project builds upon the national reputation of Humboldt State University’s programs in science, mathematics, and secondary education, as well as the professional development programs of the Redwood Science Project and the Redwood Area Mathematics Project.

Other key partners include College of the Redwoods (CR) and the North Coast Beginning Teacher Project (NCBTP). Sydney Fisher-Larson, Director of Education Programs, will lead CR’s recruiting efforts. Bruce Fisher, Humboldt County Director, and Corrine Muelrath, Executive Director, will lead NCBTP’s effort to provide support programs for new teachers.

The project will serve the professional development needs in the five county north coast region (Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, and Sonoma Counties) and also help alleviate the statewide shortage of teachers in mathematics and science.

The project includes four major goals:
Goal 1: Recruit individuals with strong mathematics and science backgrounds and enthusiasm for mathematics and science into the teaching profession.
Goal 2: Collaboratively support induction programs for new teachers in mathematics and science that support instruction aligned with the mathematics and science California Academic Content Standards.
Goal 3: Provide professional development opportunities for those teachers who are not fully certified in secondary (grades 7-12) mathematics and science.
Goal 4: Engage in research and evaluation activities including assessing the effectiveness of recruitment strategies and specific research projects related to teaching skills for English Language learners and American Indian students.

The California Post Secondary Education Commission funded 17 projects in the state under the Improving Teacher Quality Grant Program. Funds for this project are received from the U.S. Department of Education and authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act.