SUPERINTENDENT LUNA HONORS IDAHO TEACHERS WITH GIANTS AWARD

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna joined Lieutenant Governor Brad Little this week in recognizing the exceptional efforts of three Idaho teachers who go above and beyond in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The teachers were honored with the 2013 Governor's Industry Award for Notable Teaching in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (GIANTS) Award during a presentation in the Governor’s Ceremonial office.

“Through the GIANTS Award program, the State of Idaho works with industry partners to recognize teachers who create unique opportunities for students to not only experience the fun and excitement of science but also to learn how to apply lessons in real-world settings,” Superintendent Luna said.

Here are the teachers honored with the 2013 GIANTS Award. Each teacher received a $2,000 award.

• Sandy Powell of Emmett High School,
• David Moon of North Idaho STEM Academy in Rathdrum,
• Luella Stelck, a gifted and talented teacher in Moscow School District.

Honorable Mention awards of $500 each were presented to two additional teachers: Amber McVey of Pepper Ridge Elementary in Meridian received the Elementary Honorable Mention, and Carole Cox of Parma High School in Fruitland received the Secondary Honorable Mention.

The GIANTS program was initiated by the Office of the Governor and is sponsored by the Science and Technology Roundtable, a group of industry leaders including the Micron Foundation, Idaho National Laboratory, URS, Hewlett-Packard, LCF Enterprises, and Idaho Power Company. With support from the State Department of Education and Office of the State Board of Education, as well as the Discovery Center of Idaho, GIANTS recognizes teachers for their efforts to link industry and the economic future of Idaho to the classroom through the enhancement of science and technology education.

All the participating teachers were nominated by the student council and/or parent groups at their school for making science exciting, challenging, and relevant.

A cash prize of $500 goes to each school/student council that nominated the GIANTS award recipients, with a cash prize of $100 going to each school/student council that nominated the Honorable Mention award recipients.

Here is a brief description of each 2013 GIANTS Award recipient:

Elementary School GIANTS Awardee: Luella Stelck
Luella Stelck teaches Gifted and Talented classes in Moscow at both West Park and Lena Whitmore Elementary. Lulu, as she is known to close friends and co-workers, was nominated for her innovative integration and application of science and technology in the classroom, for her professional collaboration with others to “bring science and math to life” in the minds of her students, and for her desire to help other teachers understand and apply the inquiry methods of science instruction.

Students consistently love her class because of activities such as neuroscience, aeronautics, activity-based chemistry, robotics and other theme-based units. These inquiry based units motivate students to use higher cognitive abilities as they make connections with the language of science. She utilizes a wide variety of science and research professionals, and also coordinates the chemistry and chess clubs, the We Do Lego programs, and Math and Field days for the schools she serves.

Middle School GIANTS Awardee: David Moon
David Moon of North Idaho STEM Charter Academy in Rathdrum is known for keeping the students discovering, experimenting, and continually achieving. Through rocketry he teaches the relevance of math – more specifically trigonometry. He also utilizes T-bots, Minds-I and First Lego League to help his students learn to build, program, test and revise their product.

His guest speakers include those from IBM, Discover Technology, Rathdrum Animal clinic, Architects West, Time Warner Cable, LCF Enterprises, the Lake Pend Orielle (Pond – duh – ray) Acoustic Research Detachment, and NASA just to name a few. It is David’s constant connection of real world application to his daily classrooms programs that keeps his kids engaged and their education relevant.

High School GIANTS Awardee: Sandy Powell
Sandy Powell of Emmett High School teaches chemistry, physics and physical science. She also assists with the Idaho Science and Aerospace Scholars program.

She consistently looks for opportunities to strengthen her knowledge and teaching skills by participating in industry, academic and professional training seminars that include aerospace, mining, and chemistry topics. 

Through Sandy’s programs her high school students are given the opportunity to be involved in elementary science teaching and science fairs. She helps them see what it would be like to be a science teacher someday. Many experiments in class are also examples of what students could be doing in their jobs in the media, technology, or engineering fields. Through guest speakers, field trips to places like Micron, and extracurricular STEM activities such as Idaho Science and Aerospace Scholars program and engineering camps, Sandy has increased the interest in STEM careers, especially for females. Though most Emmett students complete their science requirements their junior year, her physics class continues to be full of seniors excited to learn more science from her. Helping the students see its relevance is making a big impact on the futures of the students in this small town.

Education Task Force to Hold Community Forums

The Idaho State Board of Education announced today that the statewide Task Force for Improving Education will hold a series of community forums across the state in April.

The forums will provide information and seek input on K-12 education issues in Idaho. Task Force Chair and State Board of Education member Richard Westerberg will update participants on the progress of the Task Force, which has been meeting since January, and will share initial strategies and recommendations being discussed by the group.

“This is an opportunity for all stakeholders to learn about what the Task Force has been working on and to offer feedback and ideas about education in our state,” said Westerberg. “We hope to get the input of a broad cross section of the public including parents, students, educators and civic leaders.”

Forums will be held at the following locations:

• Wednesday, April 10, 6:30 p.m. Nampa High School Little Theatre, 203 Lake Lowell, Nampa, ID 83686
• Thursday, April 11, 6:30 p.m. O’Leary Middle School auditorium (Twin Falls), 2350 Elizabeth Blvd., Twin Falls, ID 83301
• Monday, April 15, 6:30 p.m. Meriwether Lewis Hall (MLH) Room 100, Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston, ID 83501
• Tuesday, April 16, 6:30 p.m. Lake Coeur d’Alene Room, North Idaho College Student Union Building,
• Monday, April 22, 6:30 p.m. Tingey Auditorium, University Place, 1776 Science Center Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83402
• Tuesday, April 23, 6:30 p.m. Century High School, 7801 W. Diamondback Dr.,   Pocatello, ID 83204
• Thursday, April 25, 6:30 p.m. Lincoln Auditorium, Idaho Capitol Building, 700 W. Jefferson, Boise, ID 83720

A list of the initial strategies and recommendations being considered by the Task Force as well as questions for the public’s input are available on the State Board website.

The community forums in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Falls and Boise will be streamed on the web by Idaho Public Television.

Those not able to attend one of the forums can provide feedback and comments via e-mail at taskforce@osbe.idaho.gov.

Learn More About Childhood Obesity Prevention

On Saturday, April 13, St. Luke’s is hosting Taking Charge: A Call to Action, a conference open to anyone interested in learning more about intervention and prevention of childhood obesity.

The conference will feature experts on childhood obesity and prevention. Local experts and community leaders will also be on hand for session breakouts on physical activity, nutrition and obesity management.

After the conference, St. Luke’s Children’s in partnership with Boise State is hosting the Be Well Now Family Wellness Festival. The event will be held from 1p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Caven-Williams Sports Complex. The day will feature fun and healthy activities for the entire family, including the following: demonstrations by local outdoor and activity groups and nutrition and wellness tips from Treasure Valley healthy lifestyle experts.

It’s free to attend. Learn more online.

Idaho Teacher Named 2013-2014 Einstein Fellow

An Idaho teacher is one of 27 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educators from across the country who have been selected for the 2013-2014 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program, according to the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education.

Shawn Tiegs, a teacher at Nezperce Joint School District in Nezperce, Idaho, and other selected educators will serve in Washington, D.C. for 11 months beginning September 1, 2013 at sponsoring federal agencies which include the Department of Energy (DOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Einstein Fellows provide practical classroom insight in guiding education programs and policies, especially those related to STEM education.

Tiegs will serve as a Congressional Fellow, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, with program support from Brian O’Donnell.

Founded in 1990, the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program is a paid fellowship for K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics educators with demonstrated excellence in teaching. Fellowships aim to increase understanding, communication, and cooperation between the legislative and executive branches of the government and the STEM education community. The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Act, authorized by Congress in 1994, gave DOE federal responsibility for the program. The Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education administers the Program for the DOE Office of Science in partnership with the other participating federal agencies.

The 2013-2014 Einstein Fellows were selected through a rigorous application and interview process from a competitive, nationwide pool of nearly 200 applicants. Of the 27 fellows in the 2013-2014 cohort, five are returning fellows invited to serve for a second year in their sponsoring agencies.

The Triangle Coalition recently announced the names of the 22 newly selected Einstein Fellows as follows:

• Six, including Shawn Tiegs of Idaho, will serve as Congressional Fellows, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.
• Two will serve at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) office.
• Fourteen will serve at the National Science Foundation.

Two Idaho Schools Go Head to Head in March Math Madness

While men’s and women’s college basketball teams are fighting their way through the NCAA Tournament this month, there’s another version of March Madness underway… in Idaho’s schools.

Idaho students are participating in the March Math Madness competition, hosted by Think Through Math, where students from across the country compete to solve the most complex math problems during the month of March.

Through the Idaho Math Initiative, the state has contracted with Think Through Math, a web-based, interactive tutoring program, to provide supplemental mathematics to students in grades 3-12 both in the classroom and outside the school day. Think Through Math has an incentive program built in so as students solve more math problems, they earn points and can win prizes or turn their points into donations for charity.

In March Math Madness (MX3), two Idaho schools battled their way to the Final Four last week, competing against even a community college in Indiana!

But we know how great Idaho students are, especially when it comes to mathematics. Think Through Math announced this week the final two schools going to the Big Dance are…

River Valley Elementary School in Meridian and Sacajawea Junior High School in Lewiston!

These two Idaho schools will go head to head this week to see who will win the esteemed title of 2013 Think Through Math’s March MATH Madness Champion! 

The final round begins today and ends at 11:59 p.m. local time on Friday, March 29. The winning school will be announced Tuesday, April 2.

This final challenge will determine a winning school and will be based on the highest combined score of average lessons per active student plus total problems completed during the final week of competition. The school with the highest final score will be victorious.

The winning school will receive an awards event where they will be presented the March “Math” Madness Trophy, a school banner, exclusive MX3 t-shirts, national recognition, and the top students recognized.

The MX3 Runner-Up school will receive an awards event, the Runner-Up March “Math” Madness trophy, and the top students recognized.

Learn more about Think Through Math on our website.

Idaho Teacher Wins National Science Lab Challenge

Shell Oil Company and the National Science Teachers Association announced an Idaho teacher is the grand prize winner of the third annual Shell Science Lab Challenge. Four national finalists also were named.

The competition encouraged teachers (grades 6-12) in the U.S. and Canada, who have found innovative ways to deliver quality lab experiences with limited school and laboratory resources, to share their approaches for a chance to win a school science lab makeover valued at $20,000.

“Inquiry-based learning and hands-on experimentation are key elements for encouraging student interest in science,” said Dr. Frazier Wilson, Vice President, Shell Oil Company Foundation, Manager, Social Investment. “The Shell Science Lab Challenge strives to support inquiry-based instructional practices of our science teachers and excite students about the wonders and possibilities of science through active learning that emphasizes questioning, data analysis, and critical thinking. Exemplary science teaching is more relevant when it occurs in a quality lab environment where science concepts can be explored by students.”

“These science teachers have implemented some remarkable science programs, providing quality lab experiences for their students with few resources,” said Dr. David Evans, Executive Director, NSTA. “We commend the winner and national finalists of the Shell Science Lab Challenge for their creativity, resourcefulness and commitment to their students.” 

To enter the Shell Science Lab Challenge, science teachers of grades 6-12 in the U.S. and Canada were asked to describe their school’s current laboratory resources, explain why the school’s laboratory facilities might be classified as “limited” resources, and describe their approach to science education instruction utilizing their school’s current lab facilities. A panel of science educators then reviewed and selected the top entries.

Merrie Rampy of Highland High School in Craigmont was named the Grand Prize Winner.

Rampy’s principal says she has seen her “take our basic middle and high school science program and change it to a rigorous and exciting place for students to learn about all of the possibilities science has to offer…Other teachers have observed her excitement about her subject area and the improvements she wanted to bring to her program, and in turn, improve their own programs. Our high school has moved from ‘let's get these students to graduate' to ‘let’s ensure all of our students can reach their educational and life goals, including attending a four-year college…’ Our students believe it is cool to be a science nerd."

The only thing holding Rampy back from having an exceptional program is the antiquated science lab in her rural school. The lack of funding for quality equipment and materials has prevented students from experiencing the sophisticated labs that would prepare them for scientific careers. Despite the limitations, Rampy continues to provide high-quality learning experiences for her students.

Congratulations to Merrie Rampy!

As the grand prize winner, Rampy will receive a science lab makeover support package for her school valued at $20,000. The prize package includes an $8,000 Shell cash grant, $8,000 in donated lab equipment, $1,000 in NSTA prizes—to include an NSTA bookstore gift certificate and NSTA conference registrations, NSTA memberships and NSTA Learning Center subscriptions for two teachers—and an expense-paid trip for two teachers to attend the 2013 NSTA National Conference on Science Education in San Antonio next month.

For more information about the Challenge, visit the competition web site.

The Myths and Facts about the New Idaho Core Standards

In recent days, the Idaho State Department of Education has received calls and e-mails from some Idahoans expressing concerns about the new Idaho Core Standards, which were adopted after a state-led effort known as the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Unfortunately, they have heard myths about these new standards that have been perpetuated by national talk show hosts and national interest groups, but they are just that: myths. None of these statements are based in fact, yet they have continued to spread over the past two years.

In the interest of transparency, here is a list of myths we hear repeatedly in Idaho as well as other states, and the facts that dispel these myths.

Myth: The federal government has required Idaho to adopt Common Core State Standards.
Fact: The U.S. Department of Education has never dictated which standards a state has adopted, even under No Child Left Behind. The federal government has never reviewed a state’s standards, and they have not reviewed these standards. These standards were the result of a state-led effort. Idaho signed a Memorandum of Agreement with other states that clearly defines this as a state-led effort in which the federal government is not involved. This is evident in the fact that not every state has adopted the Common Core State Standards today. Each state reviewed these standards and made their own decision.

Myth: States must adopt the Common Core State Standards if they accepted federal stimulus funding, Race to the Top grants or received a federal waiver from No Child Left Behind.
Fact: No state has to adopt the Common Core State Standards. This was a state-led effort that is completely voluntary. The U.S. Department of Education has tried to incentivize states to raise their academic standards in core subject areas through Race to the Top grants and the federal waivers from No Child Left Behind. However, states like Virginia that have chosen not to adopt the Common Core State Standards still received a waiver. No requirement exists. This is completely voluntary for states. Idaho adopted these new standards because we believe they are the best path for Idaho students.

Myth: These standards will dumb down education in Idaho.
Fact: These standards are considerably higher than the previous standards Idaho had in place for mathematics and English language arts. The state has chosen to adopt these new standards because they are higher and more rigorous than Idaho’s previous standards. Our colleges and universities as well as the business community have told us that students who graduate with mastery in these standards will be prepared for the rigors of postsecondary and the workforce. This is something we have been working toward for years because today only 47 percent of Idaho’s high school graduates go on to postsecondary education and, of those, nearly half need to take remedial courses once they get there. In addition, these standards are comparable with the standards of any other country in the world. To see evidence of the difference in standards, you can look at the gap analysis Idaho conducted to compare our previous standards to these new standards or see what Idaho teachers and school administrators have to say about the standards.

Myth: Because Idaho adopted these new standards, it must upload student identifiable data into a national database, including details such as family income, family religious affiliation, and parent’s education level and biometric data (iris scans, DNA, and fingerprints) from students.
Fact: These are academic standards that set goals for what each student should know and be able to do by the end of each grade level. These standards are in no way tied to the statewide longitudinal data system. Idaho implemented its statewide longitudinal data system back in 2009, two years before the state chose to adopt these new standards. Idaho’s statewide longitudinal data system is not tied to a national database in any way. Neither the state nor local school districts collect data on things like religious affiliation, nor do we have the technology to collect any biometric data from students or staff.

Myth: These new standards will require teachers to teach math in an “untested way.”
Fact: These standards are in line with the Idaho Math Initiative that Idaho implemented back in 2008. Research has shown that teachers who have taken the Mathematical Thinking for Instruction course through the Idaho Math Initiative and applied these methods in their classrooms see better student achievement results in mathematics. A primary reason Idaho chose to adopt these new standards is because they aligned well with what we were already doing in our schools. Through these new standards, Idaho students will learn critical thinking and problem-solving skills that we believe are important now and in the future.

Myth: These new standards will de-emphasize literature, like Huckleberry Finn, and historical texts, such as the Gettysburg Address.
Fact: These standards actually emphasize reading and writing skills across all subject areas, not just in English language arts classrooms. These new standards ensure students in public high schools receive a well-rounded education in learning both literary texts as well as informational texts. The business community in Idaho and across the country has told us that students need to be prepared to read, write and analyze informational texts before they graduate from high school. We know this is a critical skill in the workforce and have to make sure Idaho students are prepared to meet it. In addition, the standards include literacy standards for history and other subject areas to make sure historical texts are incorporated throughout a student’s education.

Myth: The adoption of these new standards will eliminate school choice options in public education.
Fact: These are academic standards that set goals for what each student should know and be able to do by the end of each grade level. These standards are in no way tied to school choice options. Every public school, including schools of choice, will teach these new standards beginning next school year. Choice within public education is in fact alive and thriving in Idaho. Four new public charter schools are scheduled to open next school year to bring the total number of public charter schools in Idaho to 46. Idaho currently has 23 magnet schools or programs operating in the state along with 10 focus schools or programs. Many districts also offer alternative schools or academies as another choice. These are just a few examples of school choice in public education in Idaho.

Myth: These new standards were developed by private interest groups based in Washington, D.C.
Fact: The new standards were developed by states. The Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governor’s Association are two state-led organizations that facilitated this state-led effort. The members of these organizations are state education chiefs, such as Superintendent Luna, and state governors, such as Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter, respectively.

Myth: States are not allowed to change anything in the standards after they adopt them.
Fact: These are Idaho Core Standards, and Idaho is ultimately in control of these standards. Each state has the flexibility to add on to these standards if it sees fit. In addition, local school boards have the flexibility to add on to these standards at the local level as well.

Myth: This effort will lead to a national curriculum because standards drive curriculum.
Fact: In Idaho, the state sets academic standards, or the goals for what each child should know and be able to do by the end of each grade level. The curriculum is set at the local level by locally elected school boards. This process will remain in place under the new standards. Local school districts and public charter schools will determine the best curriculum to help the teachers in their schools teach these new academic standards. Local school districts have asked the state to provide examples of curricular materials that are aligned with the new academic standards, and the state plans to provide examples to meet district requests. However, it remains up to each local school district to select curriculum, not the state or federal government.