Project SMART (Science and Mathematics for Arizona's Rural Teachers) is a three year project sponsored by the Mammoth - San Manuel School District No.8 in San Manuel Arizona. It is designed to improve both the mathematics and science instruction practiced in grades K-8. Staff development and curriculum implementation workshops and institutes are planned for two groups of teachers. The first group, the Math and Science leadership team, will consist of 25 master teachers who will participate in leadership institutes each summer for three years. This group will acquire the background, skills and expertise necessary to become part of a facilitator team for teacher workshops. The second group, classroom teachers, will attend workshops of their choice designed to address content, teaching strategies and effective curriculum needs of teachers. A series of workshops will be developed and offered at different sites in the district. Instructional support programs consist of workshops for administration, parents and paraprofessionals. Partnership activities with school districts, county offices, community colleges, universities, state-level educations and private funding agencies will be carried out to generate support for mathematics and science improvement efforts during and after the NSF project. The NSF funds for this project are being matched by the SMART consortia institutions by an amount equivalent to 71% of the grant.
