Summer Teacher Institute

The 2007 Summer Teacher Institute was another success story. This year, Kathy Sue Hopper, 7th and 8th grade science teacher at Cutter Morning Start High School in Hot Springs, took home the grand prize in the barbecue contest and won an Iron Science competition using sugar as a secret ingredient. You can view the video of the Iron Science competition here:

View with Real Player

View with Windows Media Player

"The experience was awesome! We have so much to share and hope other teachers from Arkansas get to have this experience." These words were spoken by a teacher who had returned from a four-week workshop in San Francisco, California.

For over 22 years, the Summer Teacher Institute at the Exploratorium has been training teachers from all over the country in inquiry learning techniques. The workshops are a rich mix of hands-on activities based on Exploratorium exhibits, content-based instruction, web-based teaching resources and machine shop experiences.

About the Institute
Now teachers of Arkansas can experience this "awesome" workshop, thanks to the grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. Each summer the Arkansas Discovery Network will send middle school and high school science and math teachers to the Teacher Institute. Participants will study at the Exploratorium for five and one-half hours each day, Monday through Friday, for four weeks. Each participant will be awarded a stipend of $1100 after completion of the workshop. Professional development hours will be awarded through the University of Arkansas Center for Mathematics and Science Education. Attendees of the Institute must agree to share new skills and information with their schools, school district, coop and/or at the Arkansas Conference on Teaching.

2007 Teacher Institute
The Arkansas teachers have been chosen to attend the 2007 Summer Teacher Institute:

Amy Van Pelt
Lakewood Middle School, North Little Rock
8th grade integrated science

Kelly Foshee
Arkadelphia High School, Arkadelphia
9th grade physical science, 11th grade chemistry, 11-12th grade physics

Crystal Yeager
Smackover High School, Smackover
9th-12th math and science

Kathy Sue Hopper
Cutter Morning Star High School, Hot Springs
7th - 8th grade science
Press Release

Deb Mertz
Spring Hill Middle School, Bentonville
6th grade science, preAP science
Press Release

Linda Clarke
SUCCESS Learning Academy (alternative school for Craighead County), Jonesboro
9th grade science, 19th grade biology, 11th-12th environmental science

2006 Teacher Institute
Find out all about the first year the Arkansas Discovery Network sent teachers to the Summer Teacher Insitute at the Exploratorium!