The Mississippi Department of Education recently awarded funding to The University of Mississippi’s Center for Mathematics and Science Education (CMSE), which will provide opportunities for the state’s math teachers to improve their teaching skills.
The $1.2 million grant will fund the Developing Excellence in Education through Professional (DEEP) Learning Communities Project, which is designed for math teachers who teach fourth through eighth grade. The CMSE is partnering with several North Mississippi schools and is accepting teachers, who will be notified in February.
Participating teachers will attend a two-week summer institute in July, and they will continue their professional development through follow-up sessions later in the year.
“The project aims to help teachers gain a better understanding of the Common Core State Standards in mathematics,” said Julie James, CMSE professional development coordinator.
“The purpose of the DEEP Learning Communities Project is to deepen teachers’ understanding of the mathematics they teach, as well as to support mathematics teachers within one school as they work together as a professional learning community.”
CMSE director John O’Haver said he hopes the project will continue to show the positive impact professional learning communities can have on schools.
“We believe that getting teachers to work openly and effectively together to improve both pedagogy and content knowledge is a key to our state, and our nation, moving forward educationally,” he said.
The CMSE submitted a proposal to the department in this past October. It was one of five projects selected for the Mathematics and Science Partnership program, according to Alice Steimle, CMSE associate director.
“Our goal is to support teachers from partner schools to become collaborative professionals so that all teachers can contribute to the learning of all students,” Steimle said.
The grant currently provides funding for three years. The CMSE has already partnered with schools for the 2013-14 school year but has not identified the partners for the following two years.
