Aurora University Receives State Grants For Teacher Leadership Programs

AURORA, Ill.-- Aurora University recently received four Illinois Mathematics and Science partnership grants from the Illinois State Board of Education. The grants focus on improving mathematics and science teaching by engaging the university to improve the subject matter knowledge of mathematics and science teachers.

The award for the planning of each grant is $200,000, with the potential of receiving another $800,000 per grant for implementation and evaluation. AU was among 10 universities to receive 24 grants awarded by the Board.

The grants will help AU develop new master’s degree programs in teacher leadership in elementary mathematics and science; middle school and high school mathematics with

a science concentration; a middle school and high school life science with math connection; and at George Williams College of Aurora University in Williams Bay, Wis.,  a middle school and high school earth and space science concentration.

Sherry Eagle, executive director of AU’s Institute for Collaboration, said, “The opportunities presented by these grants will greatly benefit not only the teachers and school districts involved, but also the university community and most importantly, those K–12 students whose academic achievement in math and science will be enhanced by all our efforts.”

The initial cohort of certified teachers accepted for the master’s degree programs will include up to 35 teachers from East Aurora School District 131 and up to 35 teachers from West Aurora School District 129. There are also 25 teachers from Harvard School District 50 and South Beloit School District 320 who will participate in the George Williams College of Aurora University Earth and Space Science in Teacher Leadership degree. Each teacher taking a proposed degree program will have tuition waived.

AU established four teams that have begun the planning process of developing content and leadership coursework. The teams consist of faculty members from the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education and local school districts that are involved.

Scientists, mathematicians and engineers from partner organizations are also participating in the establishment of innovative field-based courses. Partners include the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA), Aurora; the Packer Foundation, Naperville; the Robert Crown Center for Health Education, Hinsdale and Chicago; SciTech Interactive Museum, Aurora; and Yerkes Observatory, Williams Bay, Wis.

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