|
CELEBRATING SCIENCE EDUCATION
|
(BRADENTON, FL - October 3, 2007) The bones of a giant mastodon, an exhibit of vintage motorcycles and the Bishop Planetarium provided a fascinating backdrop for the celebration of an extraordinary partnership between Lockheed Martin, the Manatee Education Foundation and the South Florida Museum. Despite rainy skies, an exuberant crowd gathered at the museum on Tuesday, October 2, 2007, to commemorate the partnership which resulted in the establishment of the Institute for Science Teaching. Funded by Lockheed Martin, the Institute for Science Teaching helps Manatee District elementary and middle school teachers broaden their overall science knowledge and sharpen their teaching skills. This past summer, 38 district teachers attended the Institute and approximately 150 additional teachers are expected to participate in the Institute's six, 20-hour workshop sessions during the 2007-2008 school year. The workshops are held at the museum.
“I've taken professional development courses all over the country, but this is the best one I've ever attended,” said Jane Beach, a science teacher at Braden River Middle. “The course was all encompassing and gave me a lot of good analogies and strategies to take back to my classroom.” Institute courses are taught by Jeff Rodgers, Director of Education for the South Florida Museum. Rodgers greeted guests at the gathering along with Jeff King, Chairman of the Board of the South Florida Museum. Special guests included many of the 38 teachers who attended the Institute for Science Teaching this past summer as well as Dr. Ray Johnson, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Lockheed Martin; Dr. Roger Dearing, Superintendent of Manatee County Schools; School Board members Harry Kinnan, Robert Gause and Jane Pfielsticker; Mary Glass, Director of the Manatee Education Foundation; Richard Fawley, Chairman of the Manatee Education Foundation Board of Directors; Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore; and Larry Bustle, Mayor of Palmetto. |
During a brief ceremony to honor the partnership, Dr. Johnson and other representatives of Lockheed Martin presented a $100,000 check to the Manatee Education Foundation to further fund science and technology education in the school district. “With the Baby Boomers starting to retire, we're going to be hiring 14,000 employees a year over the next 10 years,” Dr. Johnson said. “Because of that, we at Lockheed Martin understand the value of a strong science and technology education.”
Guests at the gathering were treated to a beautiful buffet provided by the Culinary Arts Department at Manatee Technical Institute, headed by Chef Instructor Karen Richards and Certified Executive Chef Garry Colpitts. Music for the affair was provided by the Southeast High School Classical Guitar Ensemble under the direction of Joe Downs. Institute of Science Teacher Graduate List Elementary Schools: Middle Schools:
|
