Mississippi Academy for Science Teaching Seminar

The Mississippi Academy for Science Teaching at Jackson State University will hold a kick-off seminar Feb. 11 for the state’s school district superintendents, high school principals, curriculum coordinators and Jackson State faculty and administrators at the Jackson Marriott, 200 E. Amite St. in Jackson, Miss. The seminar will introduce attendees to the goals of the Mississippi Academy for Science Teaching, which include enhancing the quality of science teaching and improving K-12 student achievement in science. The Mississippi Academy for Science Teaching is a partnership among Jackson State University, the Mississippi Department of Education and 42 school districts within the state. The first and only one of its kind, the partnership is funded by an $8.7 million award from the National Science Foundation Math and Science Partnership Program. The academy has three main components: training for future physical science teachers, full college scholarships for 45 students for three years, and professional development for high school teachers in 41 Mississippi school districts. The Feb. 11 conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call Mississippi Academy for Science Teaching director Mehri Fadavi at 601-979-2969.