The Center for Excellence in Education Sponsors Teacher Training Program

Online, September 18, 2012 (Newswire.com) - The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and the Micron Foundation will host the Bite of Science dinner event at the Hylton Performing Arts Center, on the George Mason University Prince William Campus, in Manassas, VA. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, September 18, 2012 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Science teachers and teachers of humanities who wish to broaden their perspective of science in their classroom are invited to participate. Contact Natasha Schuh-Nuhfer, Director of the Teacher Enrichment Program, at [email protected] to attend the cost-free event offered by CEE.

The mission of the Teacher Enrichment Program helps to assure a future talented and diverse U.S. workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It focuses on best practices and resources, as well as exposure to the breadth and depth of scientific discovery often not available to rural and urban high school teachers and their students. The Bite of Science professional development opportunities for teachers is estimated to impact at least 11,250 Virginia students in 2012.

The Teacher Enrichment Program will provide content and information to teachers so they can engage students to become interested in pursuing STEM careers.

"Teachers through the Teacher Enrichment Program will be given the opportunity to motivate students to pursue STEM professions," said Delegate Jackson Miller, Majority Whip, Virginia House of Delegates. "These are amazing opportunities for Prince William County teachers to participate in and to broaden their exposure of scientific discovery in our community."

CEE will feature Michael Frachel, Senior Engineer, DRAM Process Integration Group, Micron Technology Inc. and Dr. Alessandra Luchini, Assistant Professor, Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University. They will discuss their work and relate it back to the classroom.

The goals of the Teacher Enrichment Program are to:

• Provide teachers with enhanced professional development

• Furnish the opportunity for teachers to ask questions and to interact directly with scientists and engineers

• Foster excitement in teachers to create an interest for students in STEM fields

• Inform teachers so they have a better understanding of research and development

• Allow teachers the opportunity to network with their peers