Jane Close Conoley of UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School appointed chair of the UC-wide CalTeach/Science Mathematics Initiative Committee

Dr. Jane Conoley, Dean of the UC Santa Barbara Gevirtz School, has been appointed to head the CalTeach/Science Mathematics Initiative Executive Committee as its Chair. The CalTeach/Science Mathematics Initiative (SMI) is a University of California system-wide program to recruit, support, and prepare exceptional secondary science and mathematics teachers. The initiative began in response to both state and national concerns about the critical shortage of qualified science and mathematics teachers. Wyatt R. Hume, Provost and Executive Vice President, Academic Office, UC Office of the President, wrote, “Dean Conoley has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in building new relationships at UCSB among the colleges and the large interdisciplinary science and engineering research centers on campus, to the great benefit of Cal-Teach/SMI.”

CalTeach/Science Mathematics Initiative (SMI) continues to grow system-wide, attracting increasing numbers of students on all UC campuses and at 22 community colleges throughout the state. In 2010 CalTeach/SMI will reach the milestone date set for measuring the impact of this program on the production of new math and science teachers; beyond that, the state is already benefiting from the innovation and creativity that SMI has generated in methodologies for teacher preparation in these fields.

At UC Santa Barbara, SMI combines quality undergraduate courses and classroom experience to prepare students to enter a teacher credential program, such as the Gevirtz School’s Teacher Education Program. The experiences and resources of SMI are offered to both UCSB undergraduates and prospective transfer students from regional community colleges. Most importantly, SMI depends on the participation of students, mentor teachers, UCSB faculty, and donor partners.

“I am excited by the opportunity to work with UC campus leaders from across the system,” Dean Conoley says. “The SMI work is vital for the well being of our state and our nation. The stakes are very high. We either prepare our children to be successful as citizens in the high tech 21st Century or we lose our world leadership in research discoveries, patents, and environmental stewardship. Each campus is already reporting progress in attracting more STEM majors into teaching careers. This initiative is UC’s state service at its best.”

[Jane Close Conoley is available for interviews; contact George Yatchisin at 805 893 5789]
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Jane Close Conoley of UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School appointed chair of the UC-wide CalTeach/Science Mathematics Initiative Committee