Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Media Advisory

TO: Wilmington, Southeastern North Carolina media

FROM: Mimi Cunningham (910/962-3171)

DATE: Aug. 1, 2006

RE: Press Conference and Luncheon
10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 8
Atrium of UNCW School of Education Building

UNC Wilmington is aggressively working to further UNC President Erskine Bowles' top priority of producing "more teachers, better teachers, more math and science teachers and stronger school leaders." One way is to offer nine new graduate-level science courses for middle and high school math and science teachers through a collaboration between the UNCW Watson School of Education and science departments within the College of Arts and Sciences.

The first course, Advanced General Chemistry, will be offered fall semester 2006 from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. It will be taught by Jimmy Reeves, professor of chemistry and chair of the UNCW Department of Chemistry.

One innovative feature of this initiative is the use of a practicing master teacher from Southeastern North Carolina to help teach the courses. Assisting Reeves in teaching the course will be master teacher Suzanne Sexton, New Hanover County chemistry teacher at Ashley High School. Other master teachers have been identified from South Brunswick High School and Richlands High School and will attend the press conference.

Please join us for a press conference to announce this pilot program at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, in the atrium of the UNCW School of Education Building. We would also appreciate your help in inviting teachers to attend this press conference and luncheon. Please feel free to use any information from this invitation:

Please accept this invitation to the press conference and luncheon announcing the creation of nine Graduate-Level Science Courses

-- Designed for middle and high school science teachers and graduate students who hold undergraduate degrees outside the discipline.

-- Taught by science faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences at UNCW.

-- Instructors and students will be provided with Tablet PCs for the duration of their involvement in the program.

-- The program is made possible through a partnership with the Watson School of Education, UNCW

Tuesday, August 8, 2006
10:30 a.m. - noon
Atrium of the School of Education
University of North Carolina Wilmington

RSVP by Aug. 4 to M.J. Giammaria
Email: giammariam@uncw.edu
Phone: 910/962-3350