Three districts win NYSSBA/NanoCollege Be the Change for Kids Innovation Awards

On Board Online • October 15, 2012

By Merri Rosenberg Special Correspondent and Eric D. Randall Editor-in-Chief

It wasn’t easy picking the winners of the inaugural Be the Change for Kids Innovation Awards.

Out of a field of 38 entries from 36 districts, the successful programs impressed the judges with evidence that they had made a difference. “They had been operating for several years, had good assessments, and do carry over,” said Richard Collier, chair of the judges’ committee. “We wanted something that isn’t dependent on one heroic teacher.”

The winning districts were the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District for its “Community Connections” program, the New Lebanon Central School District for its “Exploring Nanotechnology” program, and the Rondout Valley Central School District for “Science Research in the High School.”

The awards program is a joint initiative between NYSSBA and the University at Albany’s College of NanoScale Science & Engineering. Each winning district receives $5,000 donated by the NanoCollege, whose scientists judged the awards.

All districts that entered the competition will be recognized at a luncheon during NYSSBA’s Annual Convention in Rochester in October.

Students and teachers from the three award-winning programs toured the Albany NanoTech complex Sept. 28. At a news conference held at the NanoCollege the same day, a representative of Gov. Andrew Cuomo praised NYSSBA and the NanoCollege for calling attention to low-cost programs with high rewards for students.

“I think this program that was started by the school boards is exactly what we need more of,” said Lonnie Threatte, the governor’s assistant secretary for higher education. “These are programs that can be replicated in other districts throughout the state. In the governor’s office, we really are looking to showcase programs like this.”

He also praised the partnership of NYSSBA and the NanoCollege, saying this represents two positive forces coming together. “The school boards association has been on front lines of providing innovative ways of going about education. They’ve advised the governor’s office and they’ve backed us up on some important things that are coming out this year. It’s been a good partnership with the school boards association.”

It’s appropriate to recognize schools with strong programs in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) because our state’s economic future is strongly tied to progress in these fields, said Alain Kaloyeros, the NanoCollege’s senior vice president and chief executive. “The nanotechnology-driven economy being built in New York through the vision and leadership of Governor Andrew Cuomo demands a highly educated and skilled workforce that possesses an exceptional ability to innovate,” he said.

Several factors influenced the judges’ selection, said Collier, who is executive associate vice president for student affairs at the NanoCollege. Among them were: 

• Do the programs encourage students’ creativity, critical thinking and civic responsibility?
• Are the programs transferable to comparable schools?
• Are positive results likely to be sustainable over time?

Below are profiles of the winning programs.

Rondout Valley: Science Research in the High School

Rondout Valley schools, located west of New Paltz in Accord, captured the judges’ attention for its program’s ability to attract girls, minority students and other high school students to STEM education for more than a decade.

Although the district described itself in its submission as a “rural school without science resources,” it has an impressive track record; more than half the graduates of the program have gone on to pursue Ph.D.s or doctorates in medical fields. Others have attained master’s degrees in the sciences. Many of these graduates have become the first scientists in their families.

Students do not have to be science or math superstars to participate. What matters is their motivation, discipline and willingness to complete four tasks that include reading in the sciences.

Teacher Elissa Jury explained in the district’s application that students design and implement their research based on journal-level literature and work with a mentor. By the third year, they write a professional paper and enter various state and national competitions.

The point of the program is to instill a sense of discipline and academic rigor, these students need to complete college-level work, including papers and presentations in the student’s research area. By participating in the program, students also earn credits that can be transferred to college. Many also have competed in and won science competition prizes at both the regional and national levels.

Another benefit has been that the student participants have formed a community beyond high school, with networking opportunities for one another as well as a strong support system. Based on the success of this program, the district is now working with the middle school to begin a junior-level Science Research class, as well as considering the addition of a social science track.

Superintendent Rosario Agostaro said, “We’re ecstatic. We were struggling this year, and the award will be helpful in supporting the research needs of our kids.”

New Lebanon: Exploring Nanotechnology

In New Lebanon, this past year the high school pursued an ambitious half-year elective class in “Exploring Nanotechnology” with a start-up budget of $15,220. The students constructed two Macro AFM-Atomic Force Microscopes on their own, which gave them hands-on experience as well as a theoretical understanding of the science. The program is continuing this school year, with an operating budget of $600.

What makes this program innovative, according to superintendent Karen McGraw, is the way students are able to see science in practice. Students first encounter the science on the theoretical level before engaging in a lab experiment to see what actually occurs. Their experiences also include working in a “clean room” and gowning up in a “bunny suit.”

Other districts could create a similar program based on New Lebanon’s model for a relatively low cost, according to the district.  The curriculum focuses on  topics such as nanoscale measurement, core concepts and novel properties, detection and microscopy, nano timeline and discoveries, nanomaterials and composites, wet and dry nano-applications, semi-conductor industry and chip making, ethical issues and nano careers.

While there are regular field trips to local colleges and industries, the New Lebanon program does not depend on those excursions for its success. Students receive a foundation in the subject through a rigorous curriculum, grounded in state-of-the-art science and a firm grasp of nanotechology’s underlying principles and relationship to other areas of physics. Students also receive an understanding of why nanotechnology matters to the medical, chemical, electronics and energy industries.

Students need to complete assessments, mostly through a 50-question multiple-choice exam, as well as their on-going course work with lab reports, lab activities and reflective essays.

Another unanticipated benefit of the program has been ongoing collaboration among teachers across disciplines, which in turn has enhanced STEM instruction throughout the district.

Principal Leslie Whitcomb said the award acknowledges “something that we have personal pride in, and acknowledges our efforts to enhance STEM offerings to kids. We’re pleased to be able to continue that work.”

Whitcomb added: “The teacher who wrote the grant had tears in his eyes when he heard that we had won. He has put a great deal of his soul into this program. These funds will further the course itself, and will allow us to go so much further. This allows us to cement the program and enhance our connections to the university.”

Berne-Knox-Westerlo: Community Connections

The only elementary school winner, Berne-Knox-Westerlo, received an award for its “Community Connections Program.” Originally launched in 2005, the program relies on volunteers to go into the schools and offer a variety of classes. One key difference with this program is that teachers not only vet the volunteers, who are often trained science center and museum educators, but also refer to their presentations as part of the regular standards-based curriculum. The budget is $1,000, the same amount that was first allocated for the program in 2005.

The program targeted three classes of 60 students, who included students classified as high needs or autistic.

With a focus more on innovation than strictly STEM education (although several of the sessions cover topics in math and science), the program takes full advantage of the resources that exist even in its rural community.

Some of the topics covered included birds, trees, butterflies, native American life, fossils, creating an online story book, health and fitness, nutrition, Starlab, and making maple syrup, among others.

Some of the goals include having students understand the connection between what they study, and future career opportunities; offering multiple opportunities for problem-solving, focused reading, team work and research; exposing children to local resources in their communities; and increasing student interest in learning about STEM academic disciplines.

“We were very pleased we won the award,” said Paul Dorward, superintendent of the Berne-Knox- Westerlo School District. “We’ve been doing this for a number of years, and we’re excited to have additional funds to expand the program.”

Visit NYSSBA’s YouTube channel for video of a news conference about the awards. Find more photos of the news conference on NYSSBA’s Facebook page.