Major Initiative: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PAGE

In addition to academic support for students, LA GEAR UP, in conjunction with LaSIP, provides year-long, university-based, competitively funded Professional Development (PD) projects focused on content knowledge and pedagogy.  The PD of educators is one of LaSIP/LA GEAR UP’s highest priorities.  Proposals from universities partnering with high-need K-12 schools are funded based on the recommendations of experts in appropriate content areas.

Participants are expected to make year-long commitments to the PD projects, which begin in the summer at the universities with intensive two- to three-week institutes.  Stipends are provided for participants with 85% or greater attendance rate.  During the academic year, university PD staff will monitor the implementation of the strategies learned in the summer institute and provide mentoring and follow-up activities for participants.

To acquire more information about the PD projects that interest you, please contact the appropriate Principal Investigator (PI).  Please keep in mind that many of these initiatives are ongoing and space is limited.

Project Title:  Northwest Louisiana PD Project:  Bridging the Gap and Making
Connections between Middle School and High School Algebra, Physical
Sciences and Biology, Year 2 & 3
University:    Centenary College
PI Contact:     svetter@centenary.edu
Descriptor:   For this ongoing project, the strengthening of subject content knowledge will translate into more class time conducting inquiry-based/problem-solving teaching.  This results in students having the opportunity to learn challenging, worthwhile, and academically rigorous math and science subject matter; to develop the ability to conduct inquiry and solve problems; and to successfully communicate their understanding.   The Summer Institutes will be conducted at Centenary College July 20-August 7.

Project Title:  Project T.E.R.M.  (Teachers Experiencing Reform Mathematics)
University:  LSU at Alexandria
PI Contact:  tawtry@lsua.edu
Descriptor:  This project is ongoing.  In order to increase student mathematics learning and appreciation, the project has four goals:  (1) increase student content knowledge in the focus areas, (2) increase teacher content knowledge in the focus areas, (3) improve pedagogical knowledge and practices of teachers, and (4) enhance teachers’ use of assessment.  Participants will provide an in-service for their school faculty, host a Family Math Night at their school, and present a poster session lesson at the annual LATM teacher conference.  In addition to the content focus, the project will also offer guidance on journaling, good instructional and assessment strategies, technology use, improving questioning skills, using collaborative learning, assessment and lesson plan development, grant writing, and exploring useful research articles.  The Summer Institutes will be conducted at LSU-A, TBA.

Project Title:  Building a High-Performing Mathematics Program in the City of Baker
School System
University:  LSU at Baton Rouge
PI Contact:  mcanelly@math.lsu.edu
Descriptor:  This is an ongoing project.  The goals of Project HPMP are to significantly improve Baker students’ learning of mathematics and scores on the LEAP and iLEAP exams, improve teacher’s content and mathematical teaching knowledge, graduate high caliber U.S. mathematics undergraduates and graduate students who are well-prepared for content oriented training of prospective and practicing teachers, and provide high-caliber field experiences for pre-service teachers.  The Summer Institutes will be conducted at Baker Heights Elementary Library on July 13-17, 20-24.

Project Title:  Baton Rouge Area STEM Initiative: Masters’ of Natural Science
Degree Program
University:  LSU at Baton Rouge
PI Contact:  madden@math.lsu.edu
Descriptor:  This is an ongoing project intended to allow 15 math and science teachers to obtain a masters degree.  While enrollment is unavailable now, contact Dr. Madden for information on future projects.

Project Title:  High School Redesign Support: Professional Development for the
LSU, LSU-A, LVS, SELU, and SU Advanced Mathematics/College Algebra & Trigonometry Initiatives
University:  LSU at Baton Rouge
PI Contact:  neubrand@math.lsu.edu
Descriptor:  This project is ongoing and space is limited. The focus of this 27-month project is to train 75 Louisiana Advanced Math teachers in the use and implementation of web-based College Algebra/Trig laboratories and to support high quality Advanced Math classes at Louisiana high schools, thereby providing significant dual credit or articulated placement opportunities for Louisiana high school juniors and seniors.   The summer institute dates and locations are TBA.

Project Title:  THE BEST OF RIPPLE II (Research and Inquiry-Based Physics Project
with LIGO and the Exploratorium)
University:  Louisiana Tech
PI Contact:  gbeer@latech.edu
Descriptor:  The BEST OF RIPPLE II builds on the success of the RIPPLE and RIPPLE Plus projects offered through Louisiana Tech University for the last four years. Those projects served over 20 science teachers of grades 6-12 per year in year-long projects that focused on 1) developing teachers’ content knowledge in the areas of waves, light, sound, electricity and magnetism, forces and motion (projectile motion), and optics, 2) introducing teachers to the use of “snacks” (tabletop models of museum exhibits) for the teaching of science, 3) providing teachers with curriculum materials tied to the Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum and the Louisiana GLEs, 4) preparing teachers to teach physics/physical science through inquiry, 5) introducing teachers to the use of informal science venues as a mechanism for enhancing student learning, and 6) helping teachers understand the focus of LIGO research and see connections between that research and the science concepts they are teaching.  The Summer Institutes will be conducted at La Tech on June 22 – July 3.

Project Title:  Project BEACON:  Lighting the Way to Improved Reading, Writing, and
Thinking
University:  Louisiana Tech
PI Contact:  carrice@latech.edu
Descriptor:  Project Beacon focuses on 1) developing teachers’ knowledge about key elements of literacy instruction (phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension, oral language and writing), 2) promoting strategic and explicit teaching, 3) developing an awareness of  metacognition, 4) developing teachers’ awareness of the value of conversation in negotiating meaning, (5) promoting active student engagement, cognitively and physically, throughout lessons, (6) providing teachers with resources related to the Louisiana GLEs, the Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum, and the Louisiana Literacy Plan, and 7) providing training for content coaches in the schools.
The Summer Institutes will be conducted at La Tech, dates TBA.

Project Title:  PROJECT BEACON:  Bridging Excellence Across Curriculum Objectives
Now (Mathematics)
University:  Louisiana Tech
PI Contact:  ctalton@latech.edu
Descriptor:  The BEACON Elementary math project will provide 55 teachers of grades 1-6 with 90 hours of intensive professional development in mathematics. A major emphasis of the project will be problem-solving strategies including bar-modeling as used in the Singapore Math program. Singapore Math has been utilized at the AE Phillips Laboratory School at Louisiana Tech this year with much success in helping students understand how to solve mathematical problems in real world applications.  The Summer Institutes will be conducted in Union parish on July 6-10, 13-17, and Lincoln parish on July 20-24, 27-31.

Project Title:  Professional Development for Teachers of Mathematics
University:  McNeese State University
PI Contact:  sbradley@mcneese.edu
Descriptor: The project will provide cohort groups with the opportunity to become SACS qualified to teach college level mathematics classes and/or receive a Master of Science degree in mathematics or Master of Education degree. The goals of this project are: (1) In three semesters and one interim term teachers will complete eighteen graduate hours of mathematics, (2) and develop teachers of mathematics in region V that are SACS qualified to teach dual enrollment classes. Focus will be on high school teachers of mathematics with the intent of preparing them to teach dual enrollment classes in their respective high schools.  The Summer Institutes will be conducted at
MSU on June 8 - July 21.

Project Title:  Guiding Algebraic Thinking and Exploration (Project GATE)
University:  Nicholls State University
PI Contact:  desley.plaisance@nicholls.edu
Descriptor:  Project GATE is an ongoing 27-month mathematics PD project designed to create a group of mathematics teachers who have an in-depth understanding of mathematics and the ability to communicate that mathematics. Project GATE will build and expand collaboration between NSU, L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College, and middle/high schools within and around the Region III area to improve student achievement.  St. James Parish Public School System is the lead partnering school system.   The Summer Institutes will be conducted at Nicholls on July 13-18, 20-25.

Project Title:  Enhancing Physical Science Instruction in Grades 9-12
University:  Nicholls State University
PI Contact:  glenn.lo@nicholls.edu
Descriptor:  This is an ongoing project, providing PD for 24 physical science teachers (from parishes in Nicholls’ immediate vicinity, with St. Mary parish as the partner LEA)  grades 9-12, with at least 75% of attendees from target LEAs  and schools as defined in the RFP.    The project will address target areas in the high school curricula on two levels: improving participant content mastery and improving teaching pedagogy in these areas.  Innovative and effective teaching methods, based on pedagogical research literature, will be modeled during the workshop.  The main focus in this endeavor will be hands-on, tangible exercises using common materials and/or electronic media that project staff will use to illustrate core concepts to workshop participants.  The Summer Institutes will be conducted at Nicholls on June 15-25.

Project Title:  Teaching What Matters:  Building Literacy Skills Using Content Reading
and Writing Knowledge
University:  Nicholls State University
PI Contact:  keri.turner@nicholls.edu
Descriptor:  This project is designed to increase middle and secondary school teachers’ knowledge of the foundations of reading and writing in the content areas and their implementation of strategies that will simultaneously increase students’ content knowledge and reading and writing skills. This project includes the elements of learning communities, the use of research-based strategies appropriate to the intended goal, collaboration, and data-driven determination of the impact of student learning. Participants will receive direct instruction in content reading and writing knowledge needed to successfully implement literacy strategies in the Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum (LCC). Participants will increase content reading and writing knowledge, increase students’ scores on EPAS, LEAP, and GEE assessments, create a four-month plan to implement content area reading and writing strategies, meet as study group teams to evaluate student work and monitor student progress, implement progress monitoring, and conduct two 1 ½ dissemination workshops.  The Summer Institutes will be conducted at Nicholls on July 6-15.

Project Title:  Modeling Inquiry Science Education (Project MISE—LIGO Science)
University:  Southern University and A&M College – Baton Rouge Campus (SUBR)
PI Contact:  jmeyinsse@cox.net
Descriptor:  A key goal of Southern University and A&M College Modeling Inquiry Science Education (MISE) Project is to immerse participating in-service and pre-service
teachers in inquiry based teaching and learning experiences using hands-on exhibits and “snacks” developed by the San Francisco Exploratorium that focus on Laser
Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) science concepts. This project
will facilitate the learning of physics/physical science (waves and light for phase I and
energy, gravity and magnets/ electricity for phase II) and mathematics concepts (measurement and number sense for both phases).  The Summer Institutes will be conducted at SUBR on July 19 – August 1.

Project Title:  Improving the PACS (Pedagogical Assessment and Content Skills) of Middle Grades Teachers (Mathematics)
University:  University of Louisiana at Lafayette
PI Contact:  psheppard@louisiana.edu
Descriptor:  This ongoing project, Improving PACS (Pedagogy, Assessment and Content Skills) of Middle Grades Teachers, aims to contribute to the professional growth of 33 middle grades (5-7) mathematics teachers employed with the Lafayette Parish School System. By targeting teachers teaching in schools with high rates of students receiving free or reduced lunch, we seek to curtail standardized test score differentials between students paying full price lunch and those receiving free or reduced lunch.  The Summer Institutes will be conducted at the Vermillion Conference Center in Lafayette on June 1-4, 8-11, 15-18.

Project Title:  Meaningful Mathematics through Modeling
University:  University of New Orleans
PI Contact:  ygermain@uno.edu
Descriptor:  This is an ongoing project proposing goals organized within four major categories:  (1) content knowledge—increase participants’ content knowledge in rational numbers, algebraic and geometric reasoning through problem solving; (2) instructional strategies—increase  participants’ skill in collaboratively applying the lesson study process to planning for mathematics and literacy instruction that integrates the concepts of algebra through rich, worthwhile, and engaging tasks requiring tools such as manipulatives, calculators, and computers—tools that will also serve as models for the concepts of rational numbers,  algebra, geometry, measurement and  other content areas;  (3) assessment strategies—increase participants’ use of alternative assessment strategies to inform instruction and enhance student learning; and (4) student achievement—increase participants’ students’ achievement and engagement in worthwhile tasks.  The Summer Institutes will be conducted at UNO July 6-17.

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