December 5, 2008
Albuquerque Journal
State Is Seeking Inspiring Teachers of Math and Science
By Andrea Schoellkopf, Journal Staff WriterReed Dasenbrock said he won't take credit for his son being in medical school.
That honor, the state Secretary of Higher Education said, goes to a high school biology teacher who inspired a number of her students to pursue medical careers.
Dasenbrock's example also illustrates why the state is seeking to place inspiring teachers in public school science and math classrooms in an effort to boost student achievement.
"In the economy of the 21st century, it's not a matter of making things," Dasenbrock said during a news conference at Eldorado High School to announce the New Mexico 2012 project. "Those jobs have left. Those jobs are not coming back. It's a matter of inventing things."
Incentives to attract and train highly qualified math and science teachers are part of a series of recommendations published two weeks ago by a Math and Science Advisory Council.
The council put a $15 million price tag on the first year, but Education Secretary Veronica Garcia hasn't decided what she will recommend.
Among the proposals in the 76-page report:
â?? Increased math licensure requirements for elementary teachers.
â?? Nine days of professional development for math and science teachers.
â?? A public awareness campaign on the importance of math and science education.
Franny Dever, who sits on the state Math and Science Advisory Council, said the changes have to be made for all teachers, not just those who have the time to attend the training.
"We're rethinking the workday and disturbing the status quo," said Dever, formerly the Albuquerque Public Schools math coordinator. "If we're going to see change and improvement, we're going to have to change our practice."
Funding for the program will come from the America Competes Act of 2007, U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman said.