NMPMSE Minutes
Friday, March 10, 9AM-noon
MESA Conference Room, 2808 Central SE, Albuquerque

Participating: Tim Aydelott, Stephen Boliver, Juantita Cata, Cindy Chapman, Julie DePree, Terry
Dunbar, Claire Fenton, Carmen Gonzales, Elwyn Hulett, Rick Kitchen, Vicente Llamas, John
Lucas, Louise Naranjo, Bill Pletsch, Eric Romero, Steve Sanchez, Rick Scott, Kurt Steinhaus,
Kathy Welborn

1) Report on Linking Leaders Initiative funded by NASA: Kurt Steinhaus reported that the
Linking Leaders Initiative with support from NASSMC and NASA was planning a Pre-Summit
on Professional Development to be held at the White Sands Testing Facility on May 4-5. At the
Pre-Summit data from the district Professional Development Plans will be discussed and a
statewide Professional Development Summit will be planned. He expressed concern that since
one of the stated purposes of the Linking Leaders Initiative was to strengthen state coalitions that
Linking Leaders meetings had not been incorporated into the Partnership meetings. It was
unanimously voted that Linking Leaders meetings should be incorporated into Partnership
meetings.

2) Report on NASSMC Directors' Meeting. Vicente Llamas reported on the NASSMC Directors'
Meeting that was held in Tampa on February 11-13 with sponsorship from NASA,
Exxon/Mobile Foundation and USWest. Attending from New Mexico were Vicente Llamas, Pat
Hynes and Rick Scott. The main theme of the meeting was for state coalitions to find their niche
in efforts to support systemic reform in math and science education. One highlight of the meeting
was the unveiling of the new NASSMC website (www.nassmc.org) that has been developed by
USWest.

3) Update on legislative session. Claire Fenton reported that perhaps the main feature of this
year's regular legislative session was that Senate Bill 2 that contained all the funding for
education was vetoed by the governor and a special session was being called to begin on March
23. A bill to establich All-Day Kindergarten's was signed by the governor, but without funding.
An early literacy bill was vetoed. A bill on teacher mentorship, and a memorial concerning math
and science that had been drafted by a NMPMSE subcommittee died during the last day Senate
filibuster.

4) Coalition for Science & Math Education (CESE). Cindy Chapman reported on Hot Spots, a
professional development program that Inez Elementary School has designed with funding from
SEDL in which they will be doing science education in the Hondo Canyon, along the Rio
Grande, and in lava flows (www.cesame-nm.org/announcement/hotspot.html). There was an
initial discussion about the possibility of closer collaboration by CESE becoming the Advisory
Board for the Partnership. Cindy also mentioned the work of CESE's founder, Marshall Berman,
at the Council on Competitiveness where a website has been developed around TIMSS results
(www.getsmarter.com).

5) Louise Naranjo and Juanita Cata reported on the Annenberg-funded "Circles of Wisdom" rural
challenge project. Circles of Wisdom grew out of a community based education model
introduced at the Santa Fe Indian School in 1995. Now in its second year it collaborates with the
UCAN-RSI in providing professional development for 12 BIA day schools and public schools in
the same regions. The BIA and public schools involved also have worked on making similar
decisions concerning curriculum adoption, and student assessment.
(www.sfis.k12.nm.us/Academics/Curriculum/community_based_education_model.htm)

6) Eric Romero reported on another Annenberg project, the Sangre de Cristo Communities and
Schools Consortium. In its first year and housed at the Center for the Education and Study of
Diverse Populations at New Mexico highlands University, it is promoting the idea of "Place-
based learning" in 10 districts in Northern New Mexico. They are looking at "where is there
math and science in the community" and involve students in all kinds of community assessments.
(www.cesdp.nmhu.edu)

7) State Board of Education has requested that the NMPMSE gather data on how many students
graduate from New Mexico high schools without having taken algebra and with only two years
of science. Steve Ewing is seeking such data from the Las Cruces Schools, Kathy Welborn will
attempt to get such data from the Albuquerque Public Schools, John Lucas from Silver City, and
Vicente Llamas from UCAN-RSI. Steve Sanchez will see what kind of supporting data can be
supplied by the SDE.

8) Regional Roundtables on Teacher Preparation and Professional Development have been held
in Las Cruces, Albuquerque and Gallup with funds that the Partnership received from CHE-
Eisenhower. Elwyn Hulett reported on the Roundtable that will be held in Portales on April 20.
In addition to presentations of the "Challenges for Professional Development" and "Challenges
for Teacher Preparation" there will be a "Best Practices Showcase" and small group discussions
on "What we can do to strengthen K-12 teacher preparation and professional development".

9) Announcements
          A. Carmen Gonzales invited all to a "Technology and Teacher Education Conference"
     will be held in Las Cruces on March 17-18 co-sponsored by CETP, RETA and the
     Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers Today project. Bernie Dodge of Web Quest fame and
     San Diego State University will be the keynote speaker.
          B. Kurt Steinhaus reported that the Northern NM Council on Excellence in Education
     was started by the University of California. Among its current goals are reaching out to
     partner, collecting data on projects, developing a report on education and opportunity in
     New Mexico, and creating math, science and technology academies in 19 schools.
          C. Rick Scott announced that NMSU received a NASA Minority University Mathematics,
     Science and Technology Awards for Teacher and Curriculum Enhancement (MASTAP)
     grant. It involves course reform in the Math Department and scholarship money to aid in
     recruitment and retention efforts to prepare math and science teachers ofr "hard to staff"
     schools. Prentice Baptiste is the PI. Minority serving institutions are encourage to apply
     during the next funding cycle. (mured.alliedtech.com/muredhomepage/MASTAP.asp)
          D. Julie Depree invited all to the annual NM Math Association for 2-Year Colleges
     (NMMATYC) meeting to be held at UNM-Valencia on May 19 and 20.
     (www.unm.edu/~nnmatyc)
          E. Claire Fenton shared information on New Mexico Tech's summer activities for the
     Master of Science Teaching, including a Chinese Area Study Studies in Water Law and
     Water Quality trip to China, and a research internship program.
     (www.nmt.edu/~science/mst)
          F. Kathy Welborn invited all to a session on Elementary and Middle School Math with
     John VandeWalle on March 31 from 9-10:30 in the Smith Brasher TVI Boardroom.

10. The next meeting will be held in Las Cruces on Friday, May 5 from 1-4 PM.