UD part of effort to train science, math teachers

President Barack Obama talks with, from left, Jayla Dogan, Ashley Thomas, and Lucas Beal, all from the Paul Robeson/Malcolm X Academy in Detroit, Mich., Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington during the White House Science Fair. Obama hosted the second White House Science Fair celebrating the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country.

AP Photo/Susan Walsh President Barack Obama talks with, from left, Jayla Dogan, Ashley Thomas, and Lucas Beal, all from the Paul Robeson/Malcolm X Academy in Detroit, Mich., Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington during the White House Science Fair. Obama hosted the second White House Science Fair celebrating the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country.

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By Margo Rutledge Kissell, Staff Writer Updated 8:04 AM Wednesday, February 8, 2012

President Barack Obama on Tuesday said a renewed focus on math and science education, in which he’s proposing to spend $80 million, should be an imperative. Obama called for putting new funding toward improving math and science education, an effort he said would be crucial to the nation’s long-term success.

The president’s budget proposal, expected next week, will include a request for $80 million for a competition to support teacher preparation programs.

He made a similar request to Congress last year, but the measure didn’t pass.

Kevin R. Kelly, dean of the University of Dayton’s School of Education and Allied Professions, welcomed Obama’s expanded goal of preparing more than 100,000 math and science teachers and training a million additional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) graduates during the next decade.

UD, which graduates up to 170 students with degrees in education annually, is participating in a new program that puts working professionals on a new pathway to enter the teaching profession.

Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Jim Petro last year tapped UD and six other institutions to participate in the Ohio Teaching Fellowship program. Other participants include: Ohio State University, Ohio University, University of Cincinnati, University of Toledo, University of Akron and John Carroll University. Affiliated with the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, the 65 Ohio fellows will include recent graduates, working scientists and longtime professionals seeking a career change.

UD’s first 15 participants will take classes beginning in June and will be teaching in area high schools by August 2013.

“We’re hoping that for some people, it’s a second career,” Kelly said.

Kelly said he’d like to know more details about how the president’s proposed new Education Department competition would be structured. For instance, only states were able to apply for federal Race to the Top funds.

“Because UD has developed an innovative Woodrow Wilson Fellowship program, I believe that we are well positioned to compete for funding — either on our own or in collaboration with other WWF recipients ... .,” Kelly said.

Huber Heights City Schools Superintendent William Kirby said he would welcome any additional federal funding put toward math and science instruction at a time when his district has been in budget-cutting mode.

With no new operating revenue, his district faces a $2.5 million deficit in 2013.

“Our reductions make it very, very difficult for us to look into the future of how we are going to work with our teaching staff and have professional development in math and science,” he said.

Ohio Department of Education spokesman Patrick Gallaway said there has been a real push toward quality programs in science and math for K-12 students.

The issue is not only about the number of teachers needed to teach math and science, but also about “the quality of the teachers and their ability to teach science and math through investigation and exploration, applying math and science to the real world.” Ohio’s 2010 math and science standards and model curriculum support that effort, he said.

Gallaway noted Ohio is among 20 states selected last fall to lead an effort to improve science education for all students through development of Next Generation Science Standards. The standards will clearly define the content and practices students will need to learn from kindergarten through high school graduation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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