Anne N. Catena
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Anne Catena
June 30, 2011 Princeton University
Program in Teacher Preparation
609-258-3336
[email protected]
Princeton University Celebrates 25 years Supporting Teachers
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. — The Program in Teacher Preparation at Princeton University celebrates the 25th anniversary of our QUEST professional development program. QUEST collaborates with local school districts to engage elementary, middle and high school teachers in inquiry based science and math instruction. The success and sustainability of QUEST for 25 years is due to our school-based collaborations as well as partnerships with Princeton University’s academic departments, research laboratories and other community educators. Over the years, University professors and researchers in Astrophysics, Chemistry, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Engineering, Geosciences, Physics, as well as the Geophysical Fluids Dynamics Laboratory and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, have shared their passion for science with over 2000 teachers.
In addition, through QUEST Scholars the Program in Teacher Preparation at Princeton University creates and maintains a professional network that deepens our own pre-service student’s learning. The QUEST Scholars professional development program in designed to support novice science and math teachers in the first three years of their career. Research indicates that new science and math teachers benefit from mentoring and support that positively impacts both retention and student learning. Together with master teachers, the QUEST Scholars learn inquiry based pedagogy skills and content to support their work in the classroom.
July 5-8, 2011, QUEST is proud to work with more than 45 teachers from Bordentown, Burlington City, Camden, East Windsor, Ewing, Freehold, Hamilton, Hillsborough, Lawrence, Princeton, Trenton, Watchung Hills and West Windsor-Plainsboro.
Past QUEST participants speak to its value: “Without a doubt, QUEST is the best professional development I’ve experienced as a science teacher because it challenges my own adult understanding of concepts and allows me to determine how I can best take this back and apply it to my classroom activities.”
QUEST 2011 is made possible through support from, and collaboration with, scientists and teachers at:
1. Princeton University with the Geosciences Department
2. the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab
3. Rider University with the National Sciences Resource Center and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
