The Science program of Fulton County Schools embraces the philosophy and premise of the Georgia Department of Education and the National Science Education Standards. The Georgia Performance Standards, as well as the National Science Education Standards, and the National Benchmarks for Science Literacy are incorporated into the science course study.

Fulton County Schools goals for science education are to educate students who are able to:

• experience the richness and excitement of knowing about and understanding the natural world;
• use appropriate habits of mind and understandings of the nature of science and scientific principles in making personal decisions;
• engage intelligently in public discourse and debate about matters of scientific and technological concern; and
• increase their economic productivity and personal responsibility through their knowledge, understanding, and skills as environmentally, scientifically, and technologically literate persons in their careers and personal endeavors.

News

The Presidential Award for Excellence

in

Science and Mathematics Teaching

Left to Right: Kathy Cox (State Superintendent of Schools), Rochelle Lofstrand (North Springs Charter High School), Robert "Buzz" Law (Board Member ; Sixth Congressional District)

Congratulations! Rochelle Lofstrand of North Springs Charter High School is a 2009 Georgia Finalist for The Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching.

The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th-grade mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. Enacted by Congress in 1983, this program authorizes the President to bestow up to 108 awards each year. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Awards are given to mathematics and science teachers from each of the 50 states and four U.S. jurisdictions. The jurisdictions are Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; Department of Defense Schools; and the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). The teachers are recognized for their contributions to teaching and learning and their ability to help students make progress in mathematics and science.

In addition to honoring individual achievement, the goal of the award program is to exemplify the highest standards of mathematics and science teaching. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education.

Garrett A. Morgan

United States Department of Transportation Grant

The Fulton County Science Department received notification that we have received a two year Garrett A. Morgan Grant totaling $200,000.00 from the Federal Department of Transportation.  The Garrett A. Morgan grant program was created to increase minority interest in transportation engineering fields.  Fulton County received a $100,000.00 Garrett Morgan Grant in 2007 which has been used to support teachers and students at Westlake High School through summer camps, curricular units, and summer university research and internships.  Fulton County will use the new grant monies to implement programs to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics achievement in primarily minority Fulton County high schools through the topic of transportation engineering.  Fulton County will be partnering with Georgia Institute of Technology to

• provide teacher training and research internship opportunities for teachers and students in the area of transportation and
• create framework and associated classroom activities for new 9th and 10th grade engineering courses being implemented by the Georgia Department of Education via the BEAT the Traffic Two activities (Building Engineering Achievement in Transportation the Traffic Two).

Teacher participants for grant funded research and internship opportunities will be selected from Westlake, Banneker, and Creekside high schools and Bear Creek and Sandtown middle schools.  Student participants for the high school research and internship opportunities will be selected from Westlake, Banneker, and Creekside.  Teacher training opportunities will be open to science, math, and engineering teachers from across the system.

Primary Contacts
   

Director

Karol Stephens

Science Support Specialist 

Lisa Alexander

Professional Assistant

Jeralyn Keel