11-19-09: USC: USC Faculty to Help Paramount School District

A multidisciplinary collaboration among the USC Rossier School of Education, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and USC College aims to transform middle school science and math education in the Paramount Unified School District by harnessing the expertise of USC faculty.

The California Postsecondary Education Commission awarded a four-year grant of $993,735 to Gisele Ragusa, associate professor of education and engineering, for professional and curriculum development in five high-need middle schools in the district.

Gary Rosen, professor and chair of the mathematics department at USC College, and Lowell Stott, professor of earth sciences at the College, are co-principal investigators on the project.

Five major STEM USC Research Centers at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, the College and the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the USC Rossier School will participate in the project.

The objective of the project is to provide professional development in science, technology, engineering and math education that will increase students’ literacy and inspire then to choose careers in the aforementioned fields.

“This research project exemplifies our recognition that we all must reach beyond the confines of our own schools, departments and subject areas and join forces as partners in order to create real change in education,” said USC Rossier School dean Karen Symms Gallagher.

“This applied research project promises to have a greater and more positive impact on education than any one of us could have facilitated on our own.”

The team of USC faculty and Paramount Unified teachers and administrators will strive to address the specific needs of English and standard English language learners as they develop lessons for teachers and curriculum for students.

By improving the effectiveness of middle school teachers, the project aims to improve performance and close achievement gaps among their students.

Ragusa will provide curriculum support, professional development leadership and evaluation of the work.

“This project is critically important to us and to the teachers, administrators and, most importantly, the students in Paramount Unified School District middle schools as we intend to improve middle school science, technology, engineering and mathematics with them and for them,” Ragusa said.

A teacher leadership team from the Paramount district will work with USC researchers who will help them translate innovative research into engaging middle school science, technology, engineering and math curriculum for their students.

http://uscnews.usc.edu/university/usc_faculty_to_help_paramount_school_district.html#15565