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Nine regional Centers will provide teachers with professional development and training needed to better prepare students for 21st century opportunities

Roseville -- The Minnesota Department of Education today announced the creation of the Minnesota Mathematics and Science Teacher Academy that will focus on improving mathematics and science instruction and learning through ongoing, quality professional development statewide.

The Academy is comprised of nine regional Teacher Centers throughout the state, each including at least one K-12 school district or education service cooperative, and one higher education institution. The Centers are located in Thief River Falls, Mountain Iron, Fergus Falls, Staples, Marshall, St. Cloud, Mankato, Rochester and Plymouth.

The Math and Science Teacher Academy is a result of Governor Pawlenty’s efforts to improve teacher effectiveness, especially in the areas of math and science. Funding for the program was approved during the 2007 legislative session. Additional money was made available through a grant from the National Governors Association.

“Math and science education are central to Minnesota’s efforts to prepare our students for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century,” Governor Tim Pawlenty said. “By providing teachers with the professional development needed to become more effective in the classroom, the Teacher Academy is a vital component in our goal of taking Minnesota students from nation-leading to world competing.”

The nine Centers will provide training and technical assistance to help teachers successfully implement Minnesota’s content standards, master the use of multiple instructional approaches to differentiate instruction and engage students, and improve skills to diagnose student learning needs using assessment of student performance.

Districts in each region will send teams of teachers to one of the nine Centers for summer training, using a train-the-trainer model. These certified trainers will then train teachers in their district and surrounding region to reach teachers across the state. Academy activities during the initial year will focus on improvement of mathematics teaching and learning. Components of each region’s plan include:

• A professional development module to assist teachers—through yearlong Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)—in delivering the new algebra standards to students in grades 6-8;
  
  
• A work plan and budget describing how the 6-8 algebra professional development module and accompanying technical assistance will be delivered throughout the region;
  
  
• A commitment to deliver an additional professional development module for K-12 mathematics teachers; and,
  
  
• A committed partnership between K-12 and a Minnesota institution of higher education to build capacity for ongoing professional development in the region.

“After parents, teachers have the biggest impact on student success,” Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Seagren said. “The Math and Science Teacher Academy will help to better prepare Minnesota teachers for success in the classroom as they continue to prepare our students for success after high school.”

Teacher Center representatives are attending a day-long conference at the Minnesota Department of Education in Roseville today to meet department staff, review the components of the program, share their individual plans, and begin collaborative work that includes regional planning and networking. Keynote addresses feature Dr. Eric Jolly, President of the Science Museum of Minnesota, and Dr. Judith Ramaley, President of Minnesota State University-Winona.

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Teacher Center Locations and Partner Organizations

Region 1 and 2 – Northwest Service Cooperative in Thief River Falls
Partners: Bemidji State University and EdSights, LLC
Contact: Mary Klamm, 218-681-0888, mklamm@nw-service.k12.mn.us

Region 3 – Northeast Service Cooperative in Mountain Iron
Partners: Hibbing Community College and the University of Minnesota-Duluth
Contact: Kathy Sterk, 218-748-7627, ksterk@nesc.k12.mn.us

Region 4 – Lakes Country Service Cooperative in Fergus Falls
Partners: Minnesota State University-Moorhead and Concordia College
Contact: Pat Anderson, 218-739-3273, panderson@lcsc.org

Region 5 – Freshwater Education District in Staples
Partners: Central Lakes Community College and DePaul University
Contact: Pete Ziegler, 218-855-1231, pziegler@q.com

Region 6 and 8 – Southwest/West Central Service Cooperative in Marshall
Partners: Minnesota River Valley Education District (MRVED) and Minnesota State University-Southwest
Contact: Shelley Maes, shelley.maes@swsc.org

Region 7 – Resource Training & Solutions in St. Cloud
Partner: Augsburg College
Contact: Dr. Rebecca Koelln, RKoelln@resourcetraining.com

Region 9 – Minnesota State University-Mankato
Partners: South Central Cooperative Agency, Normandale Community College, Gustavus Adolphus College and the Science Museum of Minnesota
Contact: Dr. Kathleen Foord, 507-389-1607, kathleen.foord@mnsu.edu

Region 10 – Southeast Service Cooperative in Rochester
Partners: Winona State University
Contact: Suzanne Riley, sriley@ssc.coop

Region 11 – Inter-District 287/Northeast Metro 916 in Plymouth
Partners: Metro Educational Cooperative Service Unit, University of Minnesota, Hamline University and Normandale Community College
Contact: Dr. Jane Holmberg, 763-550-7152, JCholmberg@district287.org

http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/About_MDE/News_Center/Press_Releases/034295