Leadership Program in Physical Sciences for Elementary Teachers and Principals

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This Teacher Enhancement project is designed to improve the quantity and the quality of elementary physical science education in the Calcasieu Parish schools of Louisiana. The project is comprised of two components. The first is a year long workshop in concepts and activities designed to broaden and update the knowledge of physical science for 60 elementary teachers and 12 principals. The workshop will also foster the teaching of elementary science in an "inquiry" mode. The second component of the program is a series of eight in-service activities carried out by the teachers and principals in their particular schools, whereby they share with colleagues the knowledge and teaching expertise which the workshop provided to them. At the end of two years, there will be a teacher/teacher or teacher/principal team in each of the thirty six elementary schools in the Parish which will provide both formal and informal leadership in the teaching of physical science. All principals in the Parish will also participate in an inservice program focused on the role of the principal as an instructional leader in the teaching of science. Participants in the project will have ample opportunities to actively engage in science activities and develop and plan appropriate science lessons and units which are consistent with the curriculum in the Parish schools. Elementary science supervisors and college staff will assist the participants in both implementation of inquiry science within their classrooms and the development of the inservice programs for the staff. Videotaping facilities will be available to participants for self-evaluation of their classroom instruction and their inservice programs. The PI has developed a sound evaluation model to assess the impact of the project. The school districts, parent-teacher groups and McNeese State University are supporting the project beyond the funding provided through the NSF grant. The PI and staff are eminently qualified to conduct this project, having been involved for some time in teacher enhancement activities in science education. An Advisory Committee comprised of representatives of the constituencies involved will provide direction to the project and assist in the assessment of its impact.