SciTEC Partners with Lincoln Parish Schools through the Adopt-A-School Program

The Science and Technology Education Center's (SciTEC) IDEA Place at Louisiana Tech University is a proud partner with each of the Lincoln Parish public schools for the 2015-2016 school year through the Adopt-A-School Program. The program is directed by the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Project ACHIEVE. As described on the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce website, "The Adopt-A-School program aims to bring more community involvement to Lincoln Parish public and private schools through pairing schools with community partners – businesses, churches, civic groups, even individuals."  Through the Adopt -a-School program, the SciTEC IDEA Place team has had the opportunity to meet great young people and amazing educators at Ruston Junior High School and Choudrant Elementary School this week for the interviews for Student of the Year and the Annual Book Character Costume Competition and Parade. We had the opportunity to interview six stellar junior high candidates all deserving of the Student of the Year honor. Thanks to Assistant Principal, Mrs. Keisha Osborne, for the invitation to meet these awesome young people. The caliber of students at RJHS and in our district is absolutely amazing!  While the students and costumes were also absolutely amazing at Choudrant Elementary, it should be noted that the teachers also did a fabulous job dressing the part! Pictured is Mrs. Moore as Doc McStuffins! Thanks to Mrs. Johnnie Simone and Ms. Brenda Brister for the invitation to be a part of the day of fun and learning!

Periwinkle Snails and Professional Educators: A Fun-filled weekend at LUMCON in Cocodrie, LA

Teachers from West Monroe High School, Ruston High School, Ruston Junior High, Richwood, Sterlington, Dubach School, and SciTEC staff from the Louisiana Tech University College of Education spent the past Saturday and Sunday at the Louisiana University Marine Consortium (LUMCON) in Cocodrie, LA. Activities were lead by Lead Educator, Ms. Murt Conover, and included taking samples off of the coast, identifying the species caught, testing quality and salinity of water, and much more. During a marsh walk participants also had the opportunity to collect, record, and analyze data related to the periwinkle snails that inhabit the area. Participating teachers included Holly Payton, Charity Patricola, Kellyn Powell, Denise Cavin, Blair David, Danni Stuckey, Random Kennedy, and Matthew Vincent. Louisiana Tech staff included Mrs. Diane Madden and Lindsey Keith-Vincent. The visit was part of a year long experiential STEAM pedagogy course offered through the Office of Professional Education Outreach. Participating teachers, selected by their districts, were able to receive a substantial scholarship from Louisiana Tech
University and their respective districts for their participation in the project. Funding was also available to support the teachers in bringing students to explore Tech resources including the new fish eye projection system in the Louisiana Tech Planetarium. That funding was made available through a Board of Regents Enhancement grant awarded for the 2014-2015 year.  This trip follows a visit to the LIGO observatory in Livingston, LA in the fall of 2014 with Dr. Lee Sawyer from the Louisiana Tech Department of Physics. Applications to participate in next year's program will be available May 1 through the SciTEC Office. Should you have questions about such opportunities, please contact the SciTEC staff at scitec@latech.edu. Thanks to Mr. John Price for getting us there and back safely!