Contact: Kathleen Holmay
301-942-9595
Fax: 301-942-2777
kholmay@cpcug.org
Arizona Science Teachers Association to Partner with State Education Organizations, National Science Teachers Association and ExxonMobil Foundation
WASHINGTON, DC, October 1, 2002 – The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and ExxonMobil Foundation announced today the funding of a new program in Arizona, Building a Presence for Science – an initiative designed to bring standards-based science education into every classroom in the state. The Arizona Science Teachers Association (ASTA) will coordinate the project in collaboration with Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona. These three organizations will receive $73,000 to implement the initiative.
Building a Presence for Science will offer Arizona science teachers professional development opportunities and link them with science educators and organizations in an electronic learning network. To do this, Arizona will identify a cadre of 50 educators to serve as Key Leaders who will establish a network of some 1,600 Points of Contact in the state’s public and private K-12 schools. The Points of Contact will provide their school colleagues with information and resources to help them become more knowledgeable about state and national standards-based science teaching and learning.
“Building a Presence for Science is critical for this state because it will allow Arizona science teachers to communicate about The Academic Standards for Science and other issues related to standards-based teaching,” said Jackie Menasco, Assistant State Coordinator of the Arizona Building a Presence for Science program. “We are
delighted to be able to establish this statewide science education partnership and we welcome collaboration with the National Science Teachers Association and the ExxonMobil Foundation.”
“Building a Presence for Science will increase opportunities for all 890,000 Arizona students to learn inquiry-based science from informed teachers,” said Larry Lebofsky, State Coordinator, Arizona Building a Presence for Science.
With the implementation in Arizona, 23 states and the District of Columbia now comprise the Building a Presence for Science network. Additionally, Florida will join the network on October 18, 2002. Managed by the NSTA and funded by ExxonMobil Foundation since 1996, Building a Presence for Science has helped science teachers implement state and national science education standards in their schools by providing a network for sharing information and practices about effective science teaching.
“To meet today’s challenges, it is imperative that our children have a strong background in science,” said Edward F. Ahnert, president of ExxonMobil Foundation. “Building a Presence for Science will make a profound difference in the ways that science is taught and learned. ExxonMobil is proud to play a role in this initiative.”
ExxonMobil Foundation has contributed more than $6 million to the Building a Presence for Science program. ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of the Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. The Foundation engages in a broad range of philanthropic activities focusing on the communities where Exxon Mobil Corporation has significant operations. In addition, the Foundation supports research and dissemination on selected topics of national interest to the energy industry. Focus areas include education, health and environment. In 2001, ExxonMobil Foundation, Exxon Mobil Corporation, and its divisions and affiliates provided more than $126 million in contributions worldwide.
The National Science Teachers Association, founded in 1944, is the world’s largest professional organization dedicated to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA’s 53,000 plus members include science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives and others involved in science education.
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