Teachers go back to school

widman@sanduskyregister.comThe tables have certainly turned for some of Sandusky's elementary math teachers.They're the ones hitting the books this school year, thanks to an innovative grant worth nearly $500,000 from the Ohio Department of Education.The award will provide state-of-the-art mathematics instruction to area educators for two years.Its first year is now in full swing.Earlier this month, about 30 educators from Sandusky's public and Catholic elementary schools gathered at BGSU Firelands for a full day of professional development with mathematics education professors from Bowling Green State University main campus. "It went very well," said Gabriel Matney, one of the professors who crafted the grant.The event included plenty of hands-on activities and lengthy discussions.Next month, teachers will develop and implement lesson plans together, based on what they learned during their day-long training."Some teachers will teach the lessons, while others will observe how the lesson goes with the students and how to improve it," Matney said. "It's a very live form of professional development."They'll also continue studying throughout the summer.In 2014, Bowling Green State University faculty members applied for and received the competitive grant through the Ohio Department of Education's mathematics and science partnership program.It's the largest grant of its kind in northwest Ohio, Matney said.Its formal name is "Common Core for the Mathematical Proficiency in Elementary Schools," but it's called "(CO)²MP Elementary" for short.The program strives to align mathematics education with new state standards known as the Common Core.The overall objective: improve students' mathematical reasoning and achievement.It's a rare, invaluable opportunity, said Julie McDonald, Sandusky Schools chief academic officer."Our district had been looking for this caliber of professional development when (Matney) approached us," McDonald said. "I can't say enough about our teachers' commitment to this grant, as it aligns seamlessly with our Transformation Plan."The Transformation Plan is an overhaul of the district's academic and day-to-day operations, spanning five total years.Improving teachers' professional development opportunities is one of the plan's 12 designated "pillars," or focus areas.The (CO)²MP Elementary grant's funding is guaranteed through the 2015-16 school year.Matney hopes to secure funding for Sandusky's teachers an additional year, pending approval from the Ohio Department of Education, he said.Register photo/ERIN MCLAUGHLIN BGSU mathematics education professor Gabriel Matney engages in a group discussion with Sandusky area teachers about how they can improve their mathematics programs during their session at BGSU Firelands on Friday.Register photo/ERIN MCLAUGHLIN Sandusky Central Catholic School teacher Marci Wheeler and BGSU math education professor Gabriel Matney look over a lesson study during their mathematics session at BGSU Firelands on Friday. Register photo/ERIN MCLAUGHLIN Sandusky area teachers meet at BGSU Firelands on Friday to discuss ways to improve mathematics so students become more proficient. A grant was approved from the Ohio Department of Education to fund mathematics-focused development for teachers.