DA VINCI TEACHER LEADER INSTITUTE OPENS SIXTH PROGRAM YEAR
The Da Vinci Teacher Leader Institute - a dynamic Da Vinci Science Center training program for elementary and middle school teachers - opened its sixth year of programming today with the start of its two-week summer intensive course.
The 43 Da Vinci Fellows are participating in the Institute's three-year professional development program, which provides teachers science content knowledge and skills for teaching science through the inquiry process - preparing them to improve student achievement and interest in science. Twenty-seven of the 43 Fellows are in their second or third year of program. The 2009-2010 year will focus on Earth sciences.
The Fellows also will participate in a fall retreat in November, bring their classes for a free field trip to the Da Vinci Science Center, contribute to a spring colloquium in April and share what they have learned with their fellow faculty members in their respective schools. All of this year's programs will focus on Earth Sciences.
Highlights from the summer intensive course will include a field trip to Scranton's Lackawanna County Coal Mine Aug. 6 from 12-1:15 p.m.; and a Lehigh River sojourn at Bethlehem's Sand Island Aug. 12 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. to study the river, its sediments, and the ecosystem that depend on them. The majority of the coursework will take place at Allentown's Cedar Crest College.
The Teacher Leader Institute's programming conforms to the National Science Education Standards for professional development and will aid teachers in meeting Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards in Science, which require teachers to have a strong understanding of both science content and process skills.
Nearly 150 Lehigh Valley teachers have participated in Da Vinci Teacher Leader Institute programs since the Institute's inception in 2004. The 2009-2010 Da Vinci Fellows are:
From the Allentown School District: Amy Belloff, Raub Middle School; Stacy Cunningham, Sheridan Elementary School; Laura Deibert, Dodd Elementary School; Jennifer Dex, Muhlenberg Elementary School; Jessica Donahue, Harrison Morton Middle School; Terri Ann Eder, Jackson Elementary School; Jessica Farley, Muhlenberg Elementary School; Heather Franco, Ritter Elementary School; Richard Grab, Ritter Elementary School; Katrina Griffin, Sheridan Elementary School; Carol Jaxheimer, Muhlenberg Elementary School; Kristen Kassab-McKee, Sheridan Elementary School; Jennifer Kriebel, Muhlenberg Elementary School; Joseph Lathrop, Raub Middle School; Diane Lint, Dodd Elementary School; Alyssa Mierta, South Mountain Middle School; Lauren Moffat, Sheridan Elementary School; Jeanne Muthard, Jackson Elementary School; Ashley Ortiz, Jackson Elementary School; Ernesto Ortiz, Ritter Elementary School; Bethany Pope, Jefferson Elementary School; Lynne Reichl, Sheridan Elementary School; Kathleen Resnick, Raub Middle School; Aline Rodriguez, Sheridan Elementary School; Daniel Ruch, Jefferson Elementary School; Megan Stauffer, Ritter Elementary School; Robin Torrence, Harrison Morton Middle School; Jennifer Voorhees, Mosser Elementary School; Marcia Zillitto, Muhlenberg Elementary School; Richele Zvorsky, Trexler Middle School.
From the Diocese of Allentown: Susan Arnold, St. Paul School; Jessica Connell, Our Lady Help of Christians School; Julie Cubbage, St. Paul School; Claire Hintze, Our Lady Help of Christians School; Mary Jo Makoul, Holy Spirit School; Georgia Mamounas, Our Lady Help of Christians School; Sarah Marouchoc, St. Paul School; Eileen Mixon-Brodt, Our Lady Help of Christians School; Lori Reitenauer, St. Paul School; Rebecca Righi, Holy Spirit School; Gayle Sarmir, St. Paul School; Maureen Whitehead, St. Paul School.
From the Southern Lehigh School District: Melanie DeSanctis, Southern Lehigh Intermediate School.
ABOUT DA VINCI SCIENCE
CENTER
The Da Vinci Science Center is an independent nonprofit organization that
promotes hands-on science learning through inquiry, highlights vibrant and
important career opportunities in science available to every young person,
and encourages all people to embrace curiosity, creativity, and imagination.
The Center delivers upon its mission through its dynamic exhibit floor, which
features more than 200 hands-on exhibits; its professional development programs
for teachers; and its outreach programs, including its Visiting Scientist
Lab (VSL) programs and After-School Science Lab (ASL) programs. The Da Vinci
Science Center stresses the inquiry method. Utilized by scientists and recognized
as the most effective way to learn, the inquiry method encourages questioning,
experimenting actively, observing, communicating results, and connecting all
knowledge. Additional information can be found on the web at www.davinci-center.org.
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