Workshops

WASDI

Wisconsin Academy Staff Development Initiative
A Program of the Wisconsin Educational Partnership Initiative, Inc.

Dr. Julie C. Stafford, Director
140 West Elm Street
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
715-723-1181
715-723-8554 (Fax)
e-mail: jstafford@wasdinet.org

Welcome

STATEWIDE ACADEMIES

	Chiwaukee Academy Kenosha/Racine Area August 11-15, 2008
	Christa McAuliffe Academy Appleton Area July 14-18, 2008
	Cray Academy Chippewa Falls Area July 4-7, 2008
	Gitche Gumee Academy Ashland Area July 28-August 1, 2008
	John Muir Academy Verona Area July 28-August 1, 2008
	Northwoods Academy Rhinelander Area August 4-8, 2008
	Sally Ride Academy West Allis Area/June 23-27, 2008 Waukesha Area/July 14-18, 2008 Grafton Area/July 28-August 1, 2008 Fond du Lac Area/August 11-15, 2008
	Star Academy River Falls Area July 29-August 1, 2008
	Washburn Academy Holmen Area/July 14-18, 2008 Onalaska Area/July 28-August 1, 2008

Background & History cont.

The project began in 1994 with a $6 million grant over five years from the National Science Foundation. Subsequently, it has received four, one-year grants administered by the U.S. Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Education, a second four year grant from the National Science Foundation, several Mathematics/Science Partnership Grants from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and other targeted grants for specific projects. These grants have allowed the project to now be in its thirteenth year of serving the Wisconsin education community.

Nearly four hundred Lead Teachers from approximately one-third of Wisconsin's four hundred and twenty-six districts were prepared under the original NSF project and subsequent grants from the U.S. Department of Education to deliver standards-based staff development workshops leading to systemic reform in mathematics, science and technology education. According to independent evaluation, ninety-two percent of the WASDI Lead Teachers reported they provided leadership for curricular change in their schools and eighty-nine percent reported providing leadership in their districts as a result of WASDI training. Lead Teachers annually conduct approximately one-half of the math, science and technology education workshops at summer academies.

Beginning in June 2003, WASDI began a four-year project under National Science Foundation funding known as WASDI-Retention and Renewal (WASDI R2). This is a four-year project to develop mentors in the content areas of mathematics and science for teachers who are new to the profession or a curriculum. These mentor teachers are receiving training in mentoring program development, coaching techniques, deep understanding of mathematics and science content topics and leadership. This project is working to provide experienced teachers with tools to hold collegial conversations about science and mathematics content with the goal of retaining young teachers, revitalizing experienced teachers and building a culture of continuous professional learning in schools.

Another venture in school leadership for mathematics and science was completed in 2004 with continued support from the U.S. Department of Education funding. This project, called WASDI-Team Leadership (WASDI-TL) developed leadership teams in mathematics or science for ten Wisconsin school districts. Each team consisted of an elementary teacher, a middle school teacher, a high school teacher and an administrator from the district. They received training for reforming curricula in mathematics or science, developed action plans for their district and received consultation in their districts from WASDI staff.

In 2005 WASDI received a grant of $50,000 from the North Central Regional Education Laboratory to support the above Team Leadership schools mathematics and science teachers to take an on-line survey from the Wisconsin Center for Educational Research. The purpose is to identify the differences between the written and actual curricula implemented in the Team Leadership school districts. The data derived from these surveys will provide critical decision-making data for school leaders and teachers to make significant change necessary for increased achievement in each district.

Starting in the spring of 2004, WASDI began a series of projects under funding administered by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction from the Federal Title II, part B, Mathematics and Science Partnership grants. This overall venture is titled the Northern Wisconsin Mathematics and Science Partnership and to date four grants have been received for targeted audiences. The first project provided mathematics and science content enhancement for middle school teachers in several small partner districts. The second project targeted high school physics teachers for content enhancement and updates. Two recent grants will allow WASDI to work with upper elementary and middle school staffs from several small northern Wisconsin districts to enhance the content knowledge of these teachers in mathematics or science.

The summer academy component of WASDI has been judged highly successful as there are now nine academies offering thirteen weeks of workshops at twelve sites throughout the state. Since WASDI began in 1994, nearly thirty thousand teachers have attended a WASDI academy and it is estimated that these teachers have taught nearly 2 million students. The independent evaluation revealed that ninety-six percent of the teachers who attend an academy report they are more effective in the classroom due to the experience.

Business partnerships are a significant component of WASDI as over seven hundred businesses have provided tours for teachers, over three hundred corporations have made financial contributions, and many have provided employees to participate in discussions with teachers. The project is recognized by educational leaders at the local, state and national levels, by professional organizations, and by business/industry personnel as a leader in providing professional development in mathematics, science and technology education in Wisconsin.

WASDI is also the administrative organization for a statewide network (WASDINet) that provides online conferencing for several projects, including each of the WASDI projects. WASDINet provides professional development and an E-Learning System for educators. WASDINet has two services to meet the needs of Wisconsin's educators: one designed for education groups and one for individual teachers' professional development. First, facilitated Online Learning Communities provide asynchronous discussion forums providing ongoing teacher professional development. Secondly, moderated asynchronous forums allow groups to do their ordinary business online. Time spent in face-to-face meetings can then focus on strategic/smart goals and crisis issues. This is an excellent alternative to meeting in person when group members are widely scattered geographically.

Another project administered by WASDI staff is the Wisconsin Science Network. WSN is a coalition of education associations, agencies and businesses that facilitate a statewide effort in support of science education. WSN has two areas of effort: connecting people and connecting and supporting leaders and hosts a web site at www.wiscience.net

The Wisconsin Science Network electronically links teachers in public and private K-16 schools, representatives of organizations, agencies and associations to facilitate statewide communication. Messages containing information about events, opportunities and directions in science education, and brief papers focusing on selected themes are sent weekly to an estimated 20,000 participants via the electronic WSN E-News. Themes have included reading in science, assessment and science safety.

Points of Contact in schools distribute information to their colleagues and provide data and feedback to WSN about the impact of Wisconsin and national directions in science education. Currently, there are over 2,000 Points of Contact representing 60% of the public and private Wisconsin schools.

Key Leaders are selected based on their leadership and experience. WSN offers targeted professional development working conferences for them as well as linking them electronically to share their expertise and experience. Presently, there are over 80 WSN Key Leaders.

WASDI works closely with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction on many projects of mutual interest to the two groups. Some of the joint activities include providing advice and expertise to the department on various topics within mathematics and science, providing the department with a forum for mathematics and science issues, and providing valuable mentor training for the implementation of PI-34, the state teacher licensing law. WASDI has also assisted with school district implementation of PI 34. DPI consultants in mathematics and science work with all WASDI projects and WASDI staff frequently consult with DPI personnel, when requested, showing true cooperation of the two agencies. Several future cooperative projects are under discussion and development.

WASDI staff work with school districts and professional organizations on a variety of levels and also provide evaluation services for several non-WASDI projects. WASDI staff also continues to seek funding from a variety of sources to assist Wisconsin educators toward their desired goal of excellence in education. In its second decade of service to Wisconsin new opportunities and challenges are being undertaken as WASDI builds upon past accomplishments.