Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), Davidson College and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte today announced an innovative educational partnership to strengthen teaching and learning in local schools. The collaboration, called the Charlotte Teachers Institute (CTI), will offer seminars to public school teachers taught by faculty from Davidson and UNC Charlotte on subjects that teachers have chosen.

The Institute, the first of its kind in the state, is launching a pilot program for CMS teachers this fall, based on a national project at Yale University called the Yale National Initiative. Charlotte is in the process of applying to the Yale National Initiative for League Institute status and hopes to be officially accepted in early 2010. Four other U.S. cities (New Haven, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Houston) have launched similar institutes.

Davidson College and UNC Charlotte will each host two interdisciplinary seminars led by an expert faculty member who will explore a specific topic in depth. A diverse group of 52 CMS teachers — from 24 schools and multiple grade levels and backgrounds — will participate in the first program. The seminar participants, referred to as CTI Fellows, will attend 13 once-a-week, two hour seminars from August until November and write a new curriculum unit for their students based on the subject matter. Each participant will receive a $1,500 stipend and continuing education credits for successfully completing the program. CTI expects to increase the number of seminars offered in future years.

The seminars will allow CMS teachers to study subjects that both interest them and relate to their classroom teaching. The first four seminars offered include Davidson associate professor of English Ann Fox teaching “Exploring Depictions of Science in Theatre” and Davidson professor of chemistry Ruth Beeston teaching “A Scientific and Human Approach to Color.” UNC Charlotte historian Oscar Lansen will lead a seminar examining "Children in War and Conflict," and UNC Charlotte professor of mathematics Harold Reiter will lead a seminar on "Understanding Fundamental Ideas in Mathematics at a Deep Level."

“The focus on scholarly content makes this an outstanding program,” said Dr. Peter C. Gorman, superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. “CTI will help CMS teachers benefit from the rich educational expertise at UNC Charlotte and Davidson.”

Davidson President Thomas W. Ross said that the program supports Davidson’s mission of community outreach. “CTI serves as a primary piece of Davidson College’s efforts to reach out to and connect with the greater Charlotte community, and the program works to reinvigorate Davidson faculty members, as they engage more closely with the regional educational community,” said Ross.

CTI works to fulfill the missions of both UNC Charlotte and Davidson College to reach beyond their campus boundaries to rejuvenate and prepare teachers so they may help today’s students succeed in an evolving and diverse world.

“CTI directly responds to recommendations set forth by UNC System President Erskine Bowles’ UNC Tomorrow Initiative, as it helps the University develop a seamless educational continuum from pre-kindergarten through higher education,” said UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip L. Dubois.

CMS, Davidson, and UNC Charlotte's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are contributing personnel and financial resources for CTI, and the initiative has begun to seek foundation and private support to expand the program to reach more of the school district’s 9,300 teachers.

The demand by teachers for this kind of professional development is high, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools administrators. Teachers value the content-based nature of the program and its leadership development components. CTI relies on teachers to select the seminar topics and recruit new participants. Teacher leader Jeff Joyce, a social studies teacher at Northwest School of the Arts, has been involved with developing this program since the summer of 2005, when he traveled to Yale University to learn about the Teachers Institute model.

“This experience gives me a unique command over my classroom,” said Joyce. “It builds my knowledge and helps me dig deeper into my subject. It makes me feel like a professional, because I am treated like a professional. On every occasion it has helped bring out the great passion I have for the subject I teach.”

Strong teachers are essential for increasing student achievement at CMS, Gorman said. “Teachers are the most important school-based factor in academic success. If we can continue to develop a teacher’s academic understanding, that teacher will be better equipped to help students learn the material.”

The Charlotte Teachers Institute launch coincides with the release of a new report by the Yale National Initiative that concludes that Teacher Institute participation enhances teacher quality and increases teacher retention. The report may be found at www.teachers.yale.edu. To learn more about the Charlotte Teachers Institute, contact CTI Director, Molly Shaw at (704) 687-0078 or visit www.charlotteteachers.org.

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About Davidson College: Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for 1,800 students located 20 minutes north of Charlotte in Davidson, N.C. Since its establishment in 1837 by Presbyterians, the college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently regarded as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Through The Davidson Trust, the college became the first liberal arts institution in the nation to replace loans with grants in all financial aid packages, giving all students the opportunity to graduate debt-free. Davidson competes in NCAA athletics at the Division I level, and a longstanding Honor Code is central to student life at the college.

About UNC Charlotte: A public research university, UNC Charlotte is the fourth largest campus among the 17 institutions of the University of North Carolina system. It is the largest institution of higher education in the Charlotte region. The university offers 18 doctoral programs, 63 master’s degree programs and 91 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees. Fall 2008 enrollment numbered 23,300 students, including nearly 5,000 graduate students.

About CMS: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is a city-county school district serving more than 137,000 students in grades Pre-K through 12. The district has 174 schools. It has set a goal of educating every student well. The students and staff of CMS have been nationally recognized for academic excellence and innovation.

This is a report of College of Liberal Arts & Sciences faculty, staff and students in the news for the months of January and February 2009.

Faculty Expertise

• Profil, the No. 1 newsweekly of Austria, featured Dr. James Tabor, department chair and professor of religious studies, in the article “Was lief wirklich in Bethlehem?” translated “What really happened in Bethlehem?” (Dec. 24)
• Dr. Jonathan Marks, professor of anthropology, appeared on ABC Radio National discussing the topic of "All in the Mind and the Philosopher's Zone: Happy Birthday Charles Darwin." (Feb. 14)
• Dr. Gregory Starrett, professor of anthropology, was featured on NPR’s “On the Media,” discussing the origin of the phrase “apes and pigs.” (Feb. 27)
• Dr. Paul Friday, professor of criminal justice, was featured in a WFAE news story, "Charlotte-Mecklenburg crime drops to a 14 year low." (Jan. 6)
• Department chair and professor of English Dr. Malin Pereira was featured in The Charlotte Observer article, “Inaugural poet about to join elite company.” (Jan. 11)
• Creative Loafing featured Dr. Jean-Claude Thill, Knight Professor of Geography and Earth Sciences, in the story, "Government wants inside your car." (Jan. 13)
• Dr. Owen Furuseth, professor in the department of geography and earth sciences, was quoted in The Charlotte Observer story about "Immigrants now key to telling Charlotte's tale." (Feb. 7)
• The Charlotte Observer featured comments from Dr. Cindy Combs, Bonnie E. Cone Professor of Political Science in the story “How Obama May Govern.” Dr. David Goldfield, Robert Lee Bailey Professor of History, was quoted in the same issue in "Dear Mr. President-elect." (Jan. 18.)
• The Charlotte Observer quoted Dr. Ted Arrington, professor of political science, in the story "Issues drew young voters to Obama," (Jan. 19) in "Hagan speech in Charlotte key for gay rights," (Feb. 21) and in “Lassiter kicks off campaign for mayor.” (Feb. 11)
• Dr. Eric Heberlig, associate professor of political science, appeared on WFAE’s “Charlotte Talks” to discuss the "The Bush Legacy ," (Jan. 16) and to discuss "Obama's First 100 Days." (Jan. 21)
• WFAE’s “Charlotte Talks” hosted history professor Dr. David Goldfield and Africana studies professor Dr. Debra Smith on the show "Inauguration Day 2009." (Jan. 20)
• The Hickory News and Record highlighted Dr. Akin Ogundiran, department chair and professor of Africana studies, in "Newton shows its spirit of Unity." (Feb. 9)

College Matters

• The University Times highlights the work of communications professor Dr. Scott Phillipson to help get a university radio station started: "UNCC has a radio station." (Feb. 04)
• The Charlotte Business Journal featured the new Center for Global Public Relations in "UNCC launches Public Relations Center." (Feb. 16)

Alumni and Student Newsmakers

• Alumnus Eric Robinson (BS ’07) was featured in The Charlotte Observer in the article “UNCC graduate drives the stars around town.” (Jan. 4)
• Winston-Salem Journal featured an article on UNC Charlotte freshman history major Ivory Paysour, "Local teen campaigner met Obama." (Jan. 22)
• The Charlotte Observer featured an article on alumnus Boris Rogers (BA ’06), "SlamCharlotte gets positive about politics," group leader of the city’s national champion poetry team. (Feb. 14)

Longtime College of Liberal Arts & Sciences professor and administrator Schley Lyons was honored last month with the dedication of the Schley R. Lyons Lecture Hall (Fretwell Building, Room 100).

Stephanie Jennings, instructor and advisor of the Mediation and Crisis Resolution Program of the criminal justice department, died suddenly Saturday, Nov. 8, while in Chicago with the UNC Charlotte Mediation Team.  She will be mourned deeply by students and faculty.

UPDATE: The funeral will be Friday, Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. at Myers Park Baptist Church. The family has asked that donations be made to UNC Charlotte's Mediation Program in lieu of flowers. Visit the Charlotte Observer online to read Jennings' obituary and for more information about arrangements.