Ohio Dominican Appoints Committee to Study Math and Science Teacher Education

February 26, 2007

COLUMBUS, OH - Fourteen highly respected members of the mathematics and science education community have been appointed to the Ohio Dominican University Promising Innovations in Science and Mathematics Education (ODU PRISM) Planning Committee.

ODU PRISM reflects a partnership between Battelle and Ohio Dominican to creatively address the needs of K-12 science and mathematics education in America.

The ODU PRISM Planning Committee will develop proposals for new and creative ways to educate teachers; recruit students into teacher education programs; and recruit faculty members to university campuses. The committee is charged with joining in learning partnerships that are emerging in Central Ohio and across the nation. Those appointed to the committee are:

• Bonnie Beach, Ph.D., Dean of Education, Ohio Dominican University (Chair)
• Brian Franz, Teacher, St. Francis DeSales High School, Columbus
• Margaret Kasten, Ph.D., Director of the Ohio Resource Center
• John Mascazine, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Science Education, Ohio Dominican University
• Steven Meiring, Coordinator for Centers of Excellence in Mathematics and Science
• Brad Mitchell, Ph.D., CEO, Franklin County Educational Council
• Ryan Sebastian, Teacher, John Sells Middle School, Dublin
• Colleen Sexton, Ph.D., Science Education Professor, Governors State University
• Louis Staffilino, Associate Superintendent of the Center for the Teaching Profession, Ohio Department of Education
• Kathryn Sullivan, Battelle Center for Mathematics and Science Education Policy, The John Glenn School of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University
• Jennifer Whetstone, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Ohio Dominican University
• Patricia Wilson, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics Education, University of Georgia
• George Viebranz,, Executive Director, Ohio Mathematics and Science Coalition
• Kim Yoak, Mathematics Specialist, Stow-Monroe Falls City Schools.

Richard Rosen, Vice President, External Business Relations, Battelle, and Ohio Dominican University President Jack Calareso, Ph.D. will serve as ex officio members.

The call to improve science and mathematics education has been loud and consistent for many years. Recent reports from the Ohio Science and Mathematics Education Policy Advisory Council and the national Commission on 21st Century Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics have reiterated that call. It is exciting to know that the Ohio Dominican University, through the generosity of Battelle, is on the leading edge of responding to this call by developing solutions to address these concerns. Battelle has provided a gift of $500,000 to support the activities of the committee targeting programs that can be replicated and exported to other Battelle locations in the U.S. It is part of a $2.5 million lead gift Battelle recently gave to Ohio Dominican, for a state-of-the-art science center that will support teacher education.

A PRISM Summit is scheduled for March 26, 2007 on the Ohio Dominican Campus. The agenda for the Summit includes a review of recommendations made by other relevant groups and the development of a plan of action for the committee. “As a result of the collective experience of its members, coupled with the knowledge gained from existing programs, the PRISM Planning Committee will provide recommendations for the development of exemplary science and mathematics education programs that will attract high quality faculty and students,” said Bonnie Beach, Ph.D., ODU Dean of Education and chair of the committee.