NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE
Office of News and Public Information • 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20418 • (202) 334-2138
Date: Dec. 21, 1994
Contacts: Maureen Shiflett, Education West
(714) 721-2232
Cheryl Greenhouse, Media Relations Associate
(202) 334-2138; Internet <news@nas.edu>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RETRAINING PROGRAM LAUNCHED TO PREPARE FORMER DEFENSE INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES FOR CAREERS AS SCIENCE AND MATH TEACHERS
LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has awarded $5 million to the National Research Council to support a five-year retraining program in the Los Angeles area. The program is designed to prepare displaced professional scientists and engineers from the military, aerospace, defense-related industries, and national laboratories for new careers in science and mathematics teaching.
The Research Council will collaborate during the first year with the Los Angeles Unified School District and California State University, Long Beach. National mathematics and science education standards will be used to guide the design of the teacher preparation programs.
“Through this program, we will help a cadre of well-prepared scientists and engineers make the transition to successful teaching careers, ” said Bruce M. Alberts, president of the National Academy of Sciences and chair of the National Research Council. “Our intention is to create a model program for teacher preparation that is based on outstanding examples of science and math curricula, and which continues to support the new teachers after they are in the schools.”
Following recruitment activities, the first class of 20 “teaching fellows” will begin training in the summer of 1995 at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). In subsequent years, additional universities and colleges will be invited to participate in the program.
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“We are very pleased that the Research Council has shown its confidence in California State University, Long Beach,” said CSULB President Robert C. Maxson. “This program will ultimately benefit scores of engineers and scientists and their families, as well as provide a tremendous boon to thousands of students in Los Angeles County. We believe the program has the potential to serve as a model for the rest of the nation.”
The first class of teaching fellows is expected to begin full-time classroom teaching in the fall of 1996 and will be assigned to inner-city secondary schools in Los Angeles. This area was selected because of the diversity of its student population and its proximity to military and industrial sites currently being downsized.
“We believe that science and mathematics teachers who are well-prepared, enthusiastic, encouraging, and adequately supported in their efforts can positively influence minority students to pursue careers in science, mathematics, and engineering,” said Sidney Thompson, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest school district in the nation, representing 28 cities in Los Angeles County.
The program will be coordinated through the Academy’s Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center in Irvine, Calif.
The National Research Council is the principal operating agency of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering. It is a private, non-profit institution that provides science and technology advice under a congressional charter.
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[Internet availability: This news release is available on the WorldWide Web at www.nas.edu; via Gopher at gopher.nas.edu; and via FTP at ftp.nas.edu/pub/]
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National Research Council
Defense Reinvestment Initiative: Scientists to Teachers Project
Fact Sheet
Summary: |
The Defense Reinvestment Initiative: Scientists to Teachers Project is a pilot program in the Los Angeles Unified School District for the transition of science and engineering professionals into careers as middle and high school science and mathematics teachers in inner-city schools. |
Funding Agency: |
U.S. Department of Defense |
Funding Level: |
$5 million over five years |
Critical Players: |
National Research Council Los Angeles Unified School District California State University, Long Beach |
Retraining Begins: |
Summer 1995 |
Size of First Class: |
20 teaching fellows |
Program Eligibility: |
Military science and engineering personnel or civilian scientists and engineers in national laboratories, defense-related, and aerospace industries who have a desire to start new careers in science and mathematics teaching. |
Project Site: |
The site of the pilot program is the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) with emphasis on inner-city schools. Los Angeles was selected because of its diverse student population and its proximity to military and industrial sites whose work force needs are changing. LAUSD is the second largest school district in the nation, representing 28 cities in Los Angeles County. Based on 1991-92 figures, 12.5 percent of all students in California public elementary and secondary schools attended schools in LAUSD. Of those, 65.1 percent were Hispanic, 14.6 percent were African-American, and 7.7 percent were members of other ethnic minority groups. |
Anticipated Results: |
It is anticipated that the program will produce a cadre of successful teachers and leaders in the Los Angeles schools. These future teachers will work with master teachers to model the kind of teaching that exemplifies standards-based teaching in science and mathematics. Through a carefully-crafted, reform-minded program, these teachers will lead the way toward lasting school reform. |
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE
Office of News and Public Information · 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20418 · (202) 334-2138
Date: July 5, 1995
Contacts: Maureen Shiflett, Director,
Defense Reinvestment Initiative
(714) 721-2232
Cheryl Greenhouse, Media Relations Associate
(202) 334-2138; Internet <news@nas.edu>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
16 FORMER DEFENSE INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES NAMED AS TEACHING FELLOWS IN RETRAINING PROGRAM
LOS ANGELES -- Sixteen former defense industry professionals have been selected to participate in the first class of the Defense Reinvestment Initiative (DRI), a retraining program to help highly trained scientists and engineers make the transition to successful careers as math and science teachers.
DRI is a five-year pilot program of the National Research Council and the Los Angeles Unified School District, supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Instruction for the first class of “teaching fellows” begins July 10 on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. After completing 13 months of training, the fellows are expected to begin teaching full time in the fall of 1996 at inner-city secondary schools in Los Angeles. This area was selected because of the diversity of its student population and its proximity to military and industrial sites currently being downsized.
“Our intention is to create a model program for teacher preparation that is based on outstanding examples of science and math teaching, ” said DRI director Maureen Shiflett.
The 16 DRI fellows were selected from a candidate pool of 65 applicants. Their average age is 49. Twelve of the fellows hold engineering degrees (electrical, mechanical, chemical, or aerospace engineering). The remaining fellows hold degrees in mathematics, physics, economics, or computer science. A roster is below.
The fellows will be honored at a reception on July 14 at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center of the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering in Irvine, Calif.
The Los Angeles Unified School District is the second largest school district in the nation, representing 28 cities in Los Angeles County. Based on 1991-92 figures, 12.5 percent of all students in California public elementary and secondary schools attended schools in the Los Angeles district.
The National Research Council is the principal operating agency of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering. It is a private, non-profit institution that provides science and technology advice under a congressional charter.
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[Internet availability: This news release is available on the WorldWide Web at <www.nas.edu>; via Gopher at <gopher.nas.edu">; and via FTP at <ftp.nas.edu/pub/>]
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1995 DEFENSE REINVESTMENT INITIATIVE FELLOWS
NAME |
CITY OF RESIDENCE |
Arnel Abad |
Garden Grove, Calif. |
Angel Golan |
Fountain Valley, Calif. |
Peter Goudeaux |
Wilmington, Calif. |
David Hasheminejad |
Westminster, Calif. |
Brian Jerrems |
Van Nuys, Calif. |
Karl H. Kastan |
La Canada, Calif. |
David R. Landsverk |
Los Angeles |
Nicholas Layana |
Fullerton, Calif. |
Dennis Mears |
Irvine, Calif. |
Lawrence B. Molnar |
Yucaipa, Calif. |
Bennie Murray |
Los Angeles |
Percy Pinto |
South Gate, Calif. |
Joseph Poodiack |
Los Angeles |
Irene Preston |
San Dimas, Calif. |
William Speight |
Lynchburg, Va. |
Diego Zamora |
Long Beach, Calif. |
PUBLICITY ABOUT THE DRI PROJECT*
12/21/94 “Idled Scientists, Engineers to Be Retrained as Teachers” by Amy Pyle, Times Education Writer. Los Angeles Times
12/22/94 “Aerospace Workers to Become Teachers” by Susan Pack, Staff Writer Long Beach Press-Telegram
1/2/95 “Defense Department Funds Five-year Retraining Program” Chemical and Engineering News
1/16/95 “Engineers Recruited as L. A. Teachers” by Robert Bellinger, Electronic Engineering Times
1/18/95 “Putting People to Work: Calif. Trains Idle Professionals” Daily Report Card
1/23/95 “Uncle Sam Wants You to Teach” The Scientist
1/27/95 “Pentagon, Academy Join Forces on Education” Science
2/10/95 “Retraining from Defense to Education” Mathematics and Technology Magazine
2/26/95 “Scientists to Teachers” a radio interview with DRIAB member Amelia McKenna and DRI Director Maureen Shiflett on Points of Light, KTWV Radio, Los Angeles
5/95 “Out of the Lab and Into the Classroom” by Erik Kreifeldt, Optics and Photonics
7/25/95 “Aerospace Workers Landing New Careers” by Diane Seo, Times Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times
8/20/95 “A Retraining Program That Adds Up” Editorial in Orange County Perspective, Los Angeles Times
11/17/95 “Retraining Program Turns Displaced Scientists and Engineers Into Teachers” by Steve Blazak, UTLA Communications Specialist, United Teacher
12/95 “Turning Engineers into High School Teachers” by Rachel A. Schwartz, ASEE Prism
1/96 “Program Aims to Transform Sward Makers into Teachers” by Maureen Shiflett, National Defense
7/96 “Teachers at Heart” by Samuel C. Florman, Technology Review
* |
A list of known publicity about the DRI project |
Idled Scientists, Engineers to Be Retrained as Teachers
Education: U.S. to announce $5-million program for laid-off personnel. They would give math and science lessons in inner-city schools.
Los Angeles Times - WEDNESDAY December 21, 1994
By: AMY PYLE; TIMES EDUCATION WRITER
Edition: Home Edition Section: Metro Page: 1 Pt. B Col. 5
In a program conceived as a national model, the U.S. Department of Defense will announce today a new $5-million program to retrain laid-off scientists and engineers for teaching careers in Los Angeles’ inner-city high schools.
The first 20 “teaching fellows” will be selected in the coming months and by summer should begin their studies--a specially tailored combination of classwork out of Cal State Long Beach and hands-on experience with mentor teachers in Los Angeles Unified School District. The trainees are expected to earn full credentials in time to start working as teachers in the fall of 1996.
Although some displaced defense industry workers have turned to teaching, occasionally supported by grants and programs, this is the largest commitment to date of government funding aimed at retraining for teaching careers in a specific district.
Organizers hope that the Scientists to Teachers Project will provide the seed for widespread improvement of math and science instruction in Los Angeles’ public schools.
“This is a lot more important than just producing some more teachers, ” said Bruce M. Alberts, chairman of the National Research Council, a private nonprofit organization that will coordinate the program. “We hope (the fellows) will become leaders and advocates for science and math reform.”
Los Angeles was selected for the project because of its ready supply of laid-off aerospace, defense industry and military workers, because of the diversity of its student population and because the dearth of math and science teachers virtually ensures employment, Alberts said.
The project will cover all educational costs for the fellows and pay a $22,000 stipend during the instruction period. There is no requirement that the new teachers remain in the inner city. But the program will provide professional development and mentor activities for two additional years for those who stay.
Although Cal State Long Beach will be the site of the first year’s program, it may spread to other colleges and universities next year, when another 40 fellows are expected to be accepted.
Los Angeles Unified administrators greeted the project with enthusiasm and applauded the decision to focus on inner-city schools, where they find it especially difficult to recruit and retain well-qualified teachers.
“One of the major obstacles that we have is that there are not enough trained teachers in mathematics and sciences,” said Assistant Supt. Amelia McKenna. “Any avenue that will help us bring to the district people with this expertise is very attractive to us.”
Although strong in their knowledge of science and math, what the former professionals may lack is the ability to work well with teenagers, McKenna said. To address that, project coordinators said they will look closely for applicants with attributes that might help the fellows thrive in public schools.
“Unquestionably they are very capable people, but they are not accustomed to the behavior of 10th-graders,” said Bob DeVries, director of a similar program at Cal State Dominguez Hills.
DeVries’ program began with financial support from four defense firms but is now funded through the Department of Labor as one of several options offered laid-off aerospace workers. Another national program, Troops to Teachers, focuses on getting retired military personnel into classrooms. Yet another provides educational support for ex-employees of the Lawrence Livermore Laboratories in Northern California who want to teach.
Harry Gray, a Caltech chemistry professor and chairman of the Scientists to Teachers advisory board, said the Los Angeles project should be viewed as an experiment, not a well-researched solution.