Contact: Jim Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Middle school science teachers from around the Magnolia State headed back to class this summer for the Teacher Academy in Natural Sciences at Mississippi State University.
TANS is a three-year professional development program exploring physical science, chemistry and Earth science. The first-year session met recently on campus with 52 teachers involved in classroom demonstrations, lab activities, problem-solving exercises, and discussions.
"TANS benefits teachers whose primary teaching duties are in middle school science, and we also strive to bolster the skill and confidence levels of teachers who may find themselves teaching material outside their original areas of expertise," said TANS co-director Renee Clary, an MSU assistant professor of geology.
In addition to training, participants receive a stipend, lab supplies and professional development materials each year. TANS is a Mathematics and Science Partnership funded through the Mississippi Department of Education, which is supported through the U.S. Department of Education. Science topics are aligned with the Mississippi 2010 Science Framework at the middle school level.
The program utilizes the talents of those in Mississippi State's chemistry, geosciences and physics departments, and is led by TANS project director Jim Dunne, a professor in the department of physics and astronomy, along with Clary. Project instructors are professor Svein Saebo, also a co-principal investigator, and assistant research professor Debbie Beard from the department of chemistry; professor Charles Wax, department of geosciences; and Josh Winter, physics and astronomy instructor.
Internal evaluator for the program is associate professor Anastasia Elder from the department of counseling and educational psychology. California-based independent science consultant Deborah Tucker serves as external evaluator.
Teachers participating in TANS' first-year program include [alphabetical by hometown]:
ACKERMAN--Denese Barksdale, Ackerman High School
BAY ST. LOUIS--Constance Rote, Bay Waveland Middle School
BILOXI--Diane Groce, North Woolmarket Elementary/Middle School
BRUCE--Sandee Tutor, Bruce Upper Elementary
CLEVELAND--Archie Mitchell, Walter C. Robinson Achievement Center
CLINTON--Linda White, Clinton Junior High School
COLUMBIA--Shelley Putnam, Jefferson Middle School
COLUMBUS--Andrea Byrd, Lee Middle School; Tracy Davis, Debra Holley, Maggie Lash, and Lisa Rooker, New Hope Middle School
FULTON--Kathy Collier, Dorsey Attendance Center; Brenda Harbin, Itawamba Attendance Center
GRENADA--Glenda Bennett and April Lee, Grenada Middle School
GULFPORT--Michelle Lee, Bayou View Middle School; Katrina Reno, Gulfport Central Middle School
HERNADO--Jeanne Lee Miller, North Panola Junior High
INDEPENDENCE--Kenneth Thompson, Independence Middle School
JACKSON--Dora Coleman, Blackburn Middle School; Erica Ferrell, Northwest Jackson Middle School; Makesha Page, Kirksey Middle School; Marti Sorey, Jackson Prep; Zira Washington, Cardozo Middle School
HOULKA--Richard Cooper, Houlka Attendance Center
KILMICHAEL--Jenessa Kuykendall , Montgomery County High School
KILN--Elizabeth Brown, Hancock Middle School
LOUISVILLE--Darlene Mittan, Grace Christian School
MACON--Sam Gilkey and Virda Triplett, B.F. Liddell Middle School
MADISON--Joe Cargile and Esther Frazier, Madison Middle School
MERIGOLD--Brittany Waggener, Hayes Cooper Center
NORTH CARROLLTON--Cecil Abels, J.Z. George High School
PASCAGOULA--Robert Moore, Colmer Middle School
PHILADELPHIA--James Luke, Philadelphia Middle School
PICAYUNE--Edith Flores, Picayune Junior High School
PEARL--Dixie Houchen, Pearl Junior High School
PLANTERSVILLE--Crystal Bigham, Plantersville Middle School
PRAIRIE--Roulette Hosey and Jettie Ware, Prairie Elementary School
ROLLING FORK--John Schmidt, Sharkey Issaquena Academy
SHELBY--Mary Washington, Shelby Middle School
STARKVILLE--Amanda Edwards, Armstrong Middle School; Susie Wall, Starkville Academy; Mary McDonald, West Oktibbeha Elementary
TUPELO--Jennifer Swords, Plantersville Middle School
WEIR--Jason McCuller, Weir High School
YAZOO CITY--Tammie Bright, Frank Woods III and Tammie Franklin, Yazoo County Junior High School.