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Rochester Area Math Science Partnership
Over twenty years ago, local leaders from the Rochester School District, Mayo Clinic, and IBM came together to form a partnership to encourage and support math and science in the school district. Since then RAMSP has grown to include three institutions of higher education, workforce development, and 13 area school districts. The partnership provides educational support and services to over 31,000 students and 1,900 teachers in an area covering more than 2,800 square miles in southeast Minnesota.
Download and print a brochure
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Zumbrota-Mazeppa, Dover-Eyota Each Have Math Teacher Named Outstanding Educator
The Zumbrota-Mazeppa and Dover-Eyota schools each had a math teacher receive a 2012 Outstanding Educator Award at the RAMSP annual dinner on December 12. They were Jamie Quam and Dan Vrieze, respectively.
Jamie Quam is the primary math teacher for all fifth grade students at Zumbrota-Mazeppa Middle School. She spoke movingly about what a fulfilling second career teaching has been for her, after having been an accountant.
During the 2007-2008 school year, Zumbrota-Mazeppa fifth graders scored below the state average on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) tests. Since Jamie was assigned to fifth grade, her students have scored above the state average on the MCA math test every year, and have done so impressively: The range has been 17 to 22 percentage points above the average.
In fact, for 2010 and again for 2012, not a single student of hers was at the "does not meet" proficiency level. Also in 2011 19% of her students were found to "exceed proficiency" and in 2012 this reached 31%. Among fourteen nearby districts, her students have consistently been in the top five.
Dan Vrieze teaches Advanced Algebra, Probability/Statistics/Trig, and Technical Math. The high school's math department works as a Professional Learning Community (PLC), a very purposeful team that continually analyzes classroom practices and performance, dialogues regularly about "best practices," and empowers teachers to develop the curriculum.
In 2012 Dan and Dover-Eyota teammate Becky Houghton made presentations on PLCs to their counterparts in other districts at two conferences, the state math conference in Duluth, and a conference held by the Southeast Minnesota Learner Achievement Collaborative (SEMLAC).
Dan's key functions in the math department's PLC have contributed significantly to these MCA results for Dover-Eyota's juniors over the past three years: In 2010, 12 percentage points above the state average; in 2011, 14 above, and in 2012, 30 percentage points above the state average. This 2012 achievement puts Dover-Eyota atop the fifteen schools in the Hiawatha Valley Education District.
What's more, Dover-Eyota students' ACT scores have consistently been higher than the state and national averages.
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RAMSP Forms Committee on Agricultural Science
At its Fall 2012 meeting, the RAMSP Board approved the formation of an exploratory committee focusing on Agricultural Science. This committee, chaired by Byron Supt. Jeff Elstad and comprised of superintendents from several RAMSP districts, Workforce Development, Inc. and UM-Rochester representatives, met for the first time on November 21.
The multi-purpose mission of the committee will be to promote the importance of Agricultural Science in SE MN and the global economy, encourage innovative public and private sector collaboration, and provide relevant STEM focused agricultural science opportunities in the RAMSP districts K-12 curricula.
On January 9 the committee met with agriculture instructors from most of the RAMSP districts for their input and guidance. It will engage that group again soon, and later involve guidance counselors and other educators. Of equal importance, representatives from key agricultural businesses will be invited to partner with and provide input to this committee. Making these connections will be very valuable.
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RAMSP 2012-2013 CALENDAR
RAMSP BOARD MEETINGS
7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Edison Building, Superintendents' Conference Room
615 7th Street SW, Rochester
October 24, 2012 (Wed.)
December TBD
--Annual Awards Banquet 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
January 16, 2013 (Wed.)
February 20, 2013 (Wed.)
April 17, 2013 (Wed.)
June 26, 2012 (Wed.)
RAMSP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Workforce Development, Inc.
1302 7th Street NW, Rochester, Minnesota
October 3, 2012 (Wed.)
November 7, 2012 (Wed.)
March 6, 2013 (Wed.)
June 5, 2013 (Wed.)
RAMSP COMMITTEE MEETINGS SCHEDULE
Continuous Improvement Committee Meetings
Northrup Bldg. 201 8th Street NW
3rd Tuesday, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Dates: TBD
Math Committee Meeting
Workforce Development, Inc.
1302 7th Street NW, Rochester
2nd Monday, 7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Dates: TBD
Science Committee Meeting
Century High School
1st Wednesday, 3 p.m.
Dates: TBD
AD HOC COMMITTEES
Development, Grants and Resources
Workforce Development, Inc.
Dates: TBD, 1:30 pm
Recruitment Task Force Meeting
UM-R Room 349 - 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Dates: TBD
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| Second Mobile Science Lab On-Line!
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Mobile Science Lab
RAMSP joined other partners in an effort to secure a second Mobile Science Lab for Southern Minnesota. The latest equipment, tools and supplies are now more available than ever for school district science classes. Teachers can participate in a training on how to use the curriculum and supplies to support teaching state standards to their students. Please contact the Southeast Service Cooperative for more information (http://www.ssc.coop/site/default.aspx?PageID=1 or 507-288-1282).
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