19 complete PJC’s Teacher Quality Grant Project

Published or Revised June 20, 2008

Nineteen teachers from Paris, North Lamar, Prairiland, Roxton and Honey Grove Independent School Districts have successfully completed the 2007-2008 Teacher Quality Grant Project "Measurement in Context" for 4th-8th-grade teachers. The yearlong professional development project at Paris Junior College was made possible through a federal Teacher Quality Grant administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The 108-hour program consists of a 45-hour summer program and twice-monthly workshops from September 2007 to May 2008. PJC was one of only two community colleges to land the grant last year. The remaining grants went to four-year institutions. "This group of teachers was trained to become highly effective," said Project Director and retired PJC math instructor Betty Swasko, "particularly in measurement and its application contexts. Now they are able to train peers in their respective ISDs." Instructional staff incorporated research-based behaviors and strategies, technology, and hands-on activities to implement the standards focused curriculum. "This is the fifth TQ Grant program we've had at PJC," Swasko continued. "By being both intensive and extensive, it's very effective. Holding workshops over a 12-month period enables teachers to refine strategies, gain deeper knowledge, and network with other participants to share successes and accommodations." As part of the grant, participants received a notebook computer, books/materials, childcare subsidy, travel expenses, and support for attending the Conference for the Advancement of Mathematics Teaching (CAMT) in San Antonio. In addition to being Project Director for the grant, Swasko also provided some instruction, as did PJC instructors Dr. Cynthia Steward and Heather Burkham, Dr. Joyce Schaeffer from NLISD. Texas A&M University-Commerce professors Dr. Vanessa Huse, Dr. Maribeth McAnally and Lymeda Singleton provided additional instruction.