The last cohort of the three
year NC Quest Math and Science Professional Development
Network Grant
directed by Dr. Karen Wetherill and Dr. Ron Sizemore completed
their studies with a “Celebration Day” on May
9, 2005. The grant provided funding for three cohorts of
teachers comprised of math, science, and mentor strands.
NC Quest participants demonstrated throughout
the grant that they personally increased their knowledge
in both content and instructional practice. The cohorts
also did an outstanding job assisting in retention and
support of teachers in the field by actively mentoring
their peers.
Their special celebration event was held
at the UNCW Center for Marine Science with the focus being
on the participants’ presentations of their portfolio
projects. In attendance also was Dr. Karen Gerringer from
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s
Center for School Leadership. The portfolio presentations
gave our students the opportunity to share what they learned
and enjoyed throughout their enrollment in NC Quest.
The group embarked on a tour of the Center
for Marine Science before sitting down to dinner. During
the buffet dinner, the entertainment consisted of a variety
of door prizes that were presented to program participants.
Pat Smith, the NC Quest instructional leader,
delivered the welcome by sharing one of Elizabeth Hill
Frasier’s, who is a recipient of the 2005 Razor Walker
award, favorite poems, which is Stephen Grellet’s “Do
It Now.” When Mrs. Smith shared “Do It Now,” she
emphasized to Cohort III that they are taking the initiative
to do it now, by increasing their content knowledge and
expertise by participating in NC Quest, which has enabled
them to be better educators for today’s students.
Following dinner, Diane Calhoun, Director
of the Professional Development Network, and NC Quest instructor,
shared with the group samples of reflective thinking activities
that the students had completed during their quest. Their
thought and analysis of themselves displayed growth over
the semester. Afterwards, the participants took to the
stage to present their final course portfolios to an audience
of peers, instructors and guests.
The students utilized a variety of media
materials in their presentations to include web pages,
computer software, print resources, and projects from their
classes. The students’ online media allowed them
to share their lesson plans, tutorials and exercises with
other teachers all around the country.
In Liz Crace’s presentation, she expressed
that as a result of her participation in NC Quest, she
initiated curriculum meetings with fellow science teachers
at her school that have proved very beneficial and she
also created a database full of their school-based science
resources to supplement daily instruction.
Similarly, in Nancy Keith’s presentation
she showed pictures of her students participating in Earth
Day activities as well as them performing Science experiments
outdoors, in an “Envirothon” all of which were
inspired by the inquiry based teaching approach encouraged
by Dr. Rich Huber and Dr. Sizemore. Marty Sugerik, math
instructor, worked with Doug Towle one-on–one and
the entire cohort to integrate math with science as often
as was practical. Marty’s passion for math instruction
in all content areas was personified.
Brainne Hoff, a teacher at Murray Middle,
fully engaged her students with activities using the “Smart
Board” technology and using science notebooks. Mary
Sparks created a “cloud website” from a power
point presentation and uploaded it to her class web site
for students to study. She also used simple, hands on experiments
to show complex science topics, such as frontal movements.
Rick Thomas vowed to use more technology in his classroom
and achieved this goal by using science probe ware with
his students. Rick took his students on action packed science
field trips to teach them more about coastal issues in
their own back yard and to document this trip using technology.
Chynthia Siddons, a high school earth science
teacher, created inquiry- based science experiments that
taught the effects that salt had when added in quantity
to boiling eggs and after that what happened to the salt
when it was left in the beaker with the water to evaporate.
Crystallized beakers were on daily display in her classroom
for students to see what had transformed from the evaporated
salt water. Crystals were then taught in depth and a lab
was created to cut out different types of crystal patterns
on paper to make colorful 3-D models for display outside
of her classroom.
All involved felt that Cohort III’s “Celebration
Day” was a great success and that it validated the
hard work the students and staff displayed over the semester.
Dr. Gerringer shared her pride in this particular NC Quest
grant, our educational work sites, learning opportunities
and the team of dedicated instructors and students.
NC Quest Cohort III consisted of seven participants
including, six science and one math teachers. The participants
were from three different counties including Brunswick,
New Hanover and Pender.
The Science participants were Liz Crace,
Brianne Hoff, Nancy Keith, Mary Sparks, Rick Thomas, and
Chynthia Siddons. The Math participant was Doug Towle.
The instructional staff members give their
best wishes to the May 2005 NC Quest graduates!
Past News Stories
View the Winter Institute 2005 article >
View the Cohort 2 Celebration
Day article >
View the NCQuest Summer 2004 article >
View the Cohort 1 Celebration Day
article >
View
the Graphics Calculator Workshop article >
View
the Physics of Toys article >
View
the NCQuest KickOff article >
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Brianne Hoff, of Murray Middle, is
a proud NC QUEST graduate.
Liz Crace, of Williston Middle, used the NC QUEST course
to improve the cataloging of curriculum materials at her
school for fellow teachers.
Project Director, Dr. Karen Wetherill,
stands with her soaring graduates of NC QUEST.
Dr. Sizemore's passion for his work at
CMS inspires his students and colleagues.
Dr. Sizemore gives the NC QUEST guests
and graduates a first class tour of CMS.
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