September 15, 2006

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Data Analysis for Middle School Teachers of Mathematics and Science

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is pleased to announce a professional development opportunity for mathematics, science and special education teachers of grades six through eight. Data Analysis for Middle School Teachers will address the data analysis standards for middle school science and mathematics using real world data collected by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

The professional development opportunity will begin in the fall of 2006 with one Saturday session (see registration form). Subsequent sessions will be online through the College of William and Mary, with a final group session meeting in the spring. Participants will be expected to create lessons integrating data analysis software and real world data. Participating teachers will be eligible for recertification points and will receive texts and a data analysis software site license for their schools.

The Virginia Department of Education will provide funding for this opportunity, excluding travel costs. Graduate credit from The College of William and Mary is available for interested teachers at their own expense. More information regarding graduate credit will be available at the Saturday sessions.

This opportunity is open to mathematics, science and special education teachers in grades six through eight. The registration form, due October 13, 2006, is attached. Preference will be given to teams of teachers from the same school, and from schools Accredited with Warning in mathematics and/or science.

For questions, please contact Paula Klonowski, science specialist, office of elementary instruction at (804) 371-0249, or by e-mail at paula.klonowski@doe.virginia.gov or Lois Williams, mathematics specialist, at (804) 786-8078, or by e-mail at lois.williams@doe.virginia.gov.

BKCJr/PK/LW/rt

Attachment

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2006/inf183a.pdf