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Curriculum Tech leaders + educators equals math, science emphasis

It was clearly a study in contrast. In one of the most neglected communities in San Diego, the chief executives from two local technology firms joined their counterparts from the area’s largest public university and school district to announce a joint program that could revolutionize the way math and science are taught in San Diego city schools. Harry Albers, executive director for the Foundation for the Improvement of Mathematics and Science Education, announced the group’s first program Jan. 30 in the courtyard of Cesar Chavez Elementary School in South Crest, just above the National City border. Albers said the three-year, $9.5 million program would enhance the education of all public school teachers specializing in math and science, their choice of curriculum and testing standards, and ultimately, their choice of textbooks.

The program is privately funded through $3 million grants from Applied Micro Circuits Co. and Qualcomm Inc., and $500,000 from the Waitt Family Foundation; a creation of Ted Waitt, founder and recently renamed CEO of Gateway, Inc. Irwin Jacobs, founder and CEO of Qualcomm, personally committed an additional $3 million. Flanked by CEOs David Rickey of AMCC and Jacobs of Qualcomm, Christian Cruz of the Waitt Family Foundation, SDSU president Dr. Stephen Weber, San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Alan Bersin and officials from Chavez Elementary School, Albers said each participating organization had an agenda for the foundation. He cited the need for a reliable, domestic work force for AMCC and Qualcomm and the need for prepared teachers and educated students in the school district.


– Program Focuses On Math, Science

There are 185 schools in San Diego Unified School District. The specialists, who only teach math or science courses as opposed to multi-disciplined, homeroom teachers, teach in fourth-, fifth-, and sixth- grade classrooms. Weber said “the several hundred elementary specialists” would receive tuition-free courses in education, math and science at SDSU. More than half the teachers in the San Diego Unified School District are graduates of SDSU, according to Weber. Bersin said the program is designed to complement the emphasis he put on literacy and to strengthen city schools overall. “What we do here is very important,” he said. Chavez Elementary Principal Cecilia Estrada said the four specialists in her school are an important component of the faculty. While the specialists don’t have their own classes, the times they do teach allow the multi-disciplined teachers a chance to reorganize their lesson plans, she said. “Plus, they can go much deeper into math and science and they are much more thorough,” Estrada said.


– Investing For The Long-Term

Jacobs, a former college professor at UCSD, said funding the program, from a business standpoint, will pay dividends when potential employees outside San Diego inquire about the public school system. But, he added, education was the most important reason for Qualcomm’s contribution. “If I went to my shareholders and tried to justify this investment, I’d be in trouble,” he said. “But clearly improving overall education is the goal.” Roughly eight months ago, Qualcomm hosted a dinner that included Jacobs, Rickey and their wives as well as Albers, Bersin and Weber. It was there Jacobs and Bersin presented the idea for the foundation to Rickey. He was sold the moment he heard of it. “You’ve got to do something,” he said. In Rickey’s mind, local schools don’t emphasize the importance of math and science enough. He said too many elementary students lose interest in science and math and as a result opt for English-based degrees once in college. Rickey considered a journalism career in high school, but chose mathematics once in college. “We’re reaching back as far as we can,” he said. In addition to offering tuition-free classes, SDSU faculty will work with the school district to “strengthen” the curriculum for math and science, Weber said. University professors Nadine Bezuk and Judith Sowder were named to co-direct that division.

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