north carolina science , mathematics , and technology education center

annual report 2008-09

 North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and
Technology Education Center (SMT Center)
was launched in 2002 to promote and support
innovation in science, mathematics, and technology
learning in the state’s elementary and secondary
schools. We’re doing that by serving as a catalyst for
innovation and change in education; advocating for
research-based instructional programs in schools;
providing tools, learning methods, and technical help
to educators; and recruiting community and business
leaders to encourage and promote advanced science
and mathematics learning at all ages.

contents
3 From the President 10
Thanks to Zanetta Hardy for photo contributions. 4 Science Summit 11
6 SMT Celebration 12
8 Science Competitions
Collaborative Project
Financial Statements
Board of Directors
from the president
One of the SMT Center’s guiding principles is
collaboration rather than duplication, and this past
year outstanding partnerships have continued to
contribute significantly to the success of our efforts.
In this report we’ll look at some of our
partnerships, and some of the important
things we’ve learned during the past year.
North Carolina’s economy continues to shift
from its traditional manufacturing and
agricultural bases to reliance on knowledge-
based endeavors such as biotech and
telecommunications. Our state has attracted
a wealth of new businesses because we are able to provide a well-
educated, well-trained workforce. In order to maintain this talented
workforce, our students need to be well-versed in STEM (science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics) areas. A new state
initiative called the JOBS (Joining Our Businesses and Schools)
Commission will make recommendations to ensure that our schools
are creating career-ready and college-ready graduates. The SMT
Center will be playing an advisory role to Lieutenant Governor
Walter Dalton as he chairs this commission’s work.
We are also joining forces with the N.C. STEM Community
Collaborative, a group working to align community assets with
workforce demands. We are especially pleased that the process
involves community discussions that will define what it means to
be STEM-ready. We look forward to playing a significant role in the
education component of each community’s strategic plan.
We continue to work with the University of Washington and Dr.
John Bransford in his research to create a viable assessment tool.
We are pleased to have the N.C. State Board of Education, the N.C.
Department of Public Instruction, and Metametrics, Inc. as partners
in our work to develop new methods of measuring student perfor-
mance. We look forward to furthering our work with the Education
Cabinet to build assessments that demonstrate that students can
use information in real world situations.
Our work this past year with the National Science Resources Center
in the LASER Initiative focused on supporting the 31 districts that have
developed strategic plans for inquiry-based science. We also partnered
with Wilson County Schools and James Jones Elementary School to
develop a LASER demonstration site at the school. This will provide
us a working model of how inquiry-based science can best be taught.
In 2010, we will continue to seek partnerships that allow us to
leverage our strengths in education. This will enable us to ensure
that North Carolina’s future is on the right track.
—Samuel H. Houston Jr., Ed.D.
2008 annual report 3
 science summit
In April, the SMT Center, The James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for
Educational Leadership and Policy, and the International Center
for Leadership in Education held the second annual Science
Summit in Cary, N.C.
During the Summit, a number of challenges facing science
education were considered. One of those challenges is being
addressed by the SMT Center through the work of John Bransford.
Dr. Bransford and his colleagues at the University of Washington
have been working on interactive assessment experiments to
better gauge how well students comprehend scientific material.
4 www.ncsmt.org
Attendees were given an opportunity to test the authentic learning
and assessment tool, which is designed for high school biology
students studying genetics.
Using a first-person interactive
platform such as Second Life, “Change happening outside of
schools is occurring at a rate four
students use their existing
to five times faster than the rate
knowledge to solve problems
of change within schools.”
and then revise their solutions,
if necessary, using outside — Bill Daggett, President of ICLE
resources such as the Internet.
In this increasingly technologi-
cally driven world, students need these skills to work collaboratively
to assess and integrate information in their decision-making.
Another challenge addressed at the Summit addressed was the
need to invest in professional development opportunities for
teachers. The SMT Center has been working to help meet that
challenge through the Collaborative Project (see page 10).
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing SMT education is the rate
at which technology is advancing. “Change happening outside
of schools is occurring at a rate four to five times faster than the
rate of change within schools,” said keynote speaker Bill Daggett,
president of the ICLE. “This is our problem.” He added that By partnering with organizations that focus on improving STEM
implementing deep changes in education to keep pace with rapidly education in North Carolina, the SMT Center is helping school
evolving and converging forces of globalization, demography, and administrators, teachers, and students provide answers to critical
technology is not likely to come from tinkering around the edges. questions in the quest to further education reform.
A handful of strategies presented at the Summit included:
• partnering businesses and scientists with schools,
• reducing federally-mandated standards,
• integrating science and math curriculum content,
• planning inquiry-based learning methods,
• looping teachers across several grades,
• awarding credit for student internships outside of school,
• using new tools to assess learning,
• dissecting components of schools that excel,
• sustaining disruptive innovation,
• and identifying factors that resist change.

“Science does not know its debt to

imagination.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

2008 annual report 5

 smt celebration

The third annual SMT Celebration took place on April 18, 2009 at
the Embassy Suites Hotel in Cary, N.C. The Celebration shines a
spotlight on the achievements of many students, teachers, and this year ’ s smt center
organizations active in SMT education. More than 400 people award winners include :
were in attendance.
This was the second year that the SMT Center presented its
own awards to acknowledge the commitment and dedication of SAS, Inc.
individuals and organizations who are advancing the SMT Center’s Business and Industry Award in Science, Mathematics,
mission. and Technology Education

North Carolina Mathematics and

Science Education Network (NC-MSEN)
Partnership Award in Science, Mathematics, and
Technology Education

6 www.ncsmt.org
John and Nancy Bray Jennifer Telschow
Champions of Science, Mathematics, and Technology Student Leadership Award in Science, Mathematics, and
Education Award Technology Education

Cindy Moss Jose D’Arruda

Outstanding Administrator Award in Science, Mathematics Outstanding Educator Award in Science, Mathematics,
and Technology Education and Technology Education

2008 annual report 7

 science competitions
In 2008 the SMT Center received support from the N.C. General
Assembly to build statewide capacity for student science
competitions. This money has been strategically utilized to increase
opportunities for North Carolina students and teachers to engage
in science competitions throughout the state.
8 www.ncsmt.org
why support science competitions ?
• Science competitions align with the N.C. Standard Course of
Study and support all areas of STEM—science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics.
• Teachers involved in science competitions have opportunities
for professional development related to improving science
instruction.
• Science competitions raise awareness of the need for STEM
education.
highlights of the past year include : The camps reached students who
traditionally would not have had
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Cumberland County Schools
a science camp experience.
developed curriculum, trained teachers, and sponsored N.C.
Science Olympiad competitions. This pilot effort will be Summer Science Olympiad Camps
replicated across the state.
• Asheville City and Buncombe, Wilson, and McDowell County
Schools provided Summer Science Olympiad Camps for rising
6th–8th graders. The camps reached students who traditionally
would not have had a science camp experience.
• Communications and publicity support plans were implemented
to raise awareness of the value of science competitions and
to celebrate student achievement. This generated a significant
increase in awareness of the competitions for elementary
schools.

2008 annual report 9

 collaborative project

The Collaborative Project, a 21st Century Initiative of the North The Collaborative Project is scheduled to continue through the
Carolina General Assembly, is a three-year pilot project that is 2010-2011 school year and we look forward to working with
administered by the Public School Forum of North Carolina and these districts to further strengthen math and science instruction.
the SMT Center. The Collaborative Project seeks to strengthen five Elementary and middle school students who have a solid founda-
public school systems serving low-income students in rural areas tion in STEM will hopefully pursue and be successful in rigorous
of the state. STEM courses in high school.
One focus of The Collaborative Project has been on identifying and
administering high quality professional development in math and
science instruction in order to improve the mathematics and science
performance of students. This past year, 570 teachers in Caswell,
Greene, Mitchell, Warren, and Washington counties participated
in professional development workshops. Districts also ran after-
school programs in place that provided academic support, along
with other activities that engaged students in the arts, experiential
learning and field trips.
Results from the past year indicate that real, measurable progress
is being made. In 2008-2009, 19 of 24 schools in the districts met
AYP (adequate yearly progress), compared to just seven of 24 in
2007-2008.

10 www.ncsmt.org
financial statements

Statement of Financial Position Statement of Activities

Year Ended June 30, 2009 Year Ended June 30, 2009

Assets Changes in unrestricted net assets

Cash $ 143,871
Grants receivable, net $ 34,014
Property and equipment, net $ 766
Prepaid expenses $ 9,320
Total assets $ 187,971
Revenues
Grants $ 283,914
Contributions $ 679,952
Interest $ 134
Total unrestricted revenues $ 964,000

Liabilities and Net Assets Expenses

Accounts payable and accrued expenses 33,403
Advances on costs subject to reimbursement $ 71,593
Total liabilities $ 104,996
Unrestricted net assets $ 82,975
Total liabilities and net assets $ 187,971
Program services $ 182,443
General and administrative $ 3,279,880
Total expenses $ 3,462,323
Changes in net assets $ (2,498,323)
Net assets at beginning of year $ 2,581,298
Net assets at end of year $ 82,975

The North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center is supported primarily by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. That support includes $502,919 of expenses
on behalf of the SMT Center during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009. These expenses were related to salaries, travel, entertainment, maintenance, supplies, professional fees,
printing costs, and other miscellaneous items. The Center has reflected contribution revenues and general and administrative expenses for these amounts.

At June 30, 2008, the SMT Center had a related party receivable from BWF of $2,500,000. The aforementioned receivable was expected to be collected upon completion of the
SMT Center’s tax status change. The SMT Center has decided to forgo a change in its tax status and release BWF from its contribution pledge. Accordingly, the SMT Center recorded
a full valuation allowance against the contribution receivable as of June 30, 2009.
board of directors 2008-2009

Todd Boyette, Ph.D. Rebecca Garland, Ed.D. Fran Nolan, Ed.D.

Director Chief Academic Officer/ Executive Director
Morehead Planetarium & Science Center Associate State Superintendent Grassroots Science Museums Collaborative
NC Department of Public Instruction
John Burris, Ph.D. Sidney Rachlin, Ed.D.
President Sam Houston, Ed.D. Professor of Mathematics Education
Burroughs Wellcome Fund President and CEO East Carolina University
North Carolina Science, Mathematics,
J.B. Buxton and Technology Education Center Michael Schmedlen
Education Consultant Director
The Education Innovations Group Kate Hovis World Wide Education
Senior Vice President Lenovo
Joseph Crocker BB&T
Assistant Secretary for Sharon Schulze, Ph.D.
Community Development Emma Jackson Director
NC Department of Commerce Executive Director of Instructional Services/ The Science House
Title l
Mary Cullinane New Hanover County Schools Elic Senter
Academic Program Manager Education Consultant
U.S. Partners in Learning Susan Jackson North Carolina Association of Educators
Microsoft Executive Director
WakeMed Physician Practices Ira Trollinger, Ph.D.
Elaine Franklin, Ph.D. Superintendent
Director Caroline McCullen McDowell County Schools
Center for Mathematics and Science Education Director, Education Initiatives
Western Carolina University SAS

t 919.991.5111 f 919.991.0695 www.ncsmt.org P.O. Box 13901 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3901