Sweet Briar College is one of 10 Virginia schools to receive a grant from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to enhance teaching methods and professional development opportunities in the state. The $122,324 grant comes from SCHEV's 2004-05 "Improving Teacher Quality State Grant Program," part of the national "No Child Left Behind" initiative.

The funding clears the way for a professional development workshop at Sweet Briar from June 28 through July 2 as well as the hiring of Andrea Orvos, a full-time instructional support specialist in science and mathematics education.

The workshop, "Investigate and Understand: Math and Science by Inquiry," is for teachers of grades three through eight and focuses on hands-on concepts and approaches to teaching math and science. Led by SBC instructors Jill Granger and Hank Yochum, the workshop is open to 50 Central Virginia teachers who may earn a graduate level credit or continuing education points for participating. The SCHEV grant covers participants' tuition costs and provides a stipend for completing the program. As of June 24, at least 45 teachers had signed on.

Throughout the 2004-05 school year, teachers from collaborating school systems will receive in-class assistance from Orvos - as well as appropriate materials and supplies - in implementing inquiry-based instruction in their classroom. To reinforce the instruction, nine follow-up workshops will be held on Saturdays from September through May 2005.

Granger, SBC associate professor of chemistry, is a longtime advocate of hands-on learning and teaching. "We're looking to give students an opportunity to learn the process of science instead of memorizing facts," she said. "They get to investigate and learn from their own experience. It tends to be a more effective teaching method."

This is the sixth straight year that Sweet Briar has received SCHEV funding for teacher education projects in math and science, but Granger does not take the support for granted. She sees the program as a rare opportunity for the SBC and Central Virginia communities.

"We are very lucky to receive this grant," she said. "The state funds the programs one year at a time. Every year is a new project. This is the most extensive project in six years. As a result, the area schools are going to have some new things this year. The teachers are going to benefit from ongoing professional development and extended resources, so the children will also benefit."

Having an experienced, full-time instructional support specialist on board is another advantage. Orvos has a bachelor's degree in biology, a master's degree in horticulture, and an extensive background in science and teaching.

"What we wanted in this position was a person with a strong science background, teaching experience, and good interpersonal skills - we have definitely found that in Andrea," Granger said. "She has the training that gives her the needed background in both the physical and life sciences to feel comfortable mentoring teachers in third through eighth grade as well as skills to help teachers make connections in the classroom between math lessons and science."

Orvos will work with teachers throughout the school year and visit classrooms to assist teachers as needed with lessons and planning. She is among 50 teachers representing eight public school systems and five area private schools. The in-class support allows teachers to do more hands-on and inquiry-based science than they'd normally be able to.

"It's important to have in-class support during the school year," Granger said. "In the past, teachers were out on their own with no ongoing support.

"This extends the teacher's own professional development as it provides for learning opportunities for children." she said. "The best ideas and practices in science and math education will be disseminated quickly and implemented. It will be very interesting to see how much cross-fertilization of ideas and teaching strategies happens throughout this year."

Despite the recurring nature of the programs, teachers are encouraged to participate from one year to the next. Almost 50 percent of this year's participants have participated before. "There's a misconception that they can't come back," she said. "But every year it's something different. Teachers are always welcome to come back again."

For more information on "Investigate and Understand: Math and Science by Inquiry," please contact Jill Granger at (434) 381-6166 or granger@sbc.edu; Hank Yochum at 381-6357 or hyochum@sbc.edu; or Pam Simpson, project assistant, at 381-6443.