TRDA Partners with Florida School Districts for Technology Education

March 25, 2003

Titusville, Fla. - March 25, 2003 - Frank Kinney, Executive Director of Florida's Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA), announced the partnership of the agency's professional development training initiative, The Endeavour Academy, with the Hendry, DeSoto, and Highlands County school districts to address the Enhancing Education Through Technology (E2T2) program.  E2T2 is a new program of federal funding under the "No Child Left Behind Act," which will provide more than $900,000 in equipment and training for these three districts.

According to the Florida Department of Education, the thrust of this program is to improve student academic achievement through effective integration of technology into the learning process.  Increasing access to emerging technologies and promoting the incorporation of research-based instructional methods and best practices are also important aspects of this program.  School districts participating in this exciting initiative will be expected to improve their long-range technology planning efforts in order to achieve long-term national goals for the program.  Providing teachers with high-quality professional development opportunities and modern instructional tools is essential in creating an effective learning environment for students.

"The Endeavour Academy has partnered with school districts across the state to provide science, math, and technology content-based workshops during teacher-in-service programs," says Michelle Peters, Education Programs Manager and Director of The Endeavour Academy.  "Our partnership with Hendry, DeSoto, and Highlands counties further solidifies The Academy and the TRDA as a resource to our school districts, and underscores our commitment to meet the educational challenges set forth by this administration.

The Endeavour Academy has partnered with the Highlands County School District to provide professional development and assessment under the E2T2 initiative.  Through the partnership, The Endeavour Academy will provide teachers with a five-day seminar institute with additional follow-up throughout the year. The focus of this seminar will be to show teachers how to use technology and integrate it with their teaching styles. Assessment work will include surveys, interviews, and site visits by the TRDA staff.

Hendry County will look to The Endeavour Academy’s partnership to provide specialized training for Clewiston Middle School during the 2003-2004 school year based upon requested subject areas. The TRDA will also provide $5,000 in technology to the school to support the training as well as supplemental stipends to teachers attending in-service training.

In DeSoto County, both high school and middle school students will benefit from training by The Endeavour Academy. Teachers at DeSoto High School will receive laptops with wireless and combination network cards and LCD projects. The Academy staff will assist in the assessment of the high school teachers’ competency and ability to integrate Internet resources into the classroom and curriculum environment. The Academy will also conduct three-day training sessions on incorporating the use of PowerPoint, WEB browsing, Digital Photography and Scanning into traditional classroom instruction. Teachers at DeSoto Middle School will participate in the training and receive digital cameras for lessons in multimedia techniques for classroom activities.

Every year, each state nationwide receives a block grant for technology-related training under the "No Child Left Behind Act."  In the State of Florida, this funding is distributed on using the Full-Time Equivalent measurement– based largely upon the number of students – to determine the dollar breakdown per district. The remaining funds are distributed based on a competitive grant program. This is the first year for the E2T2 program, which was a competitive proposal submission process available to every school district within the State of Florida.

The Endeavour Academy is a teacher professional development resource offering science, math, and technology content-based workshops and summer internships. The Academy is designed to deliver unique, hands-on training, using resources from the space program, high tech industry, and research institutions to help school districts broaden teacher knowledge in the fields of math, science and technology. The Endeavour Academy was established by the Technological Research and Development Authority and is funded by grants from U.S. and Florida Departments of Education revenue from the Challenger License plate. For more information on the Academy, visit www.TheEndeavourAcademy.com.

The Technological Research and Development Authority, established by the Florida Legislature in 1987, delivers the successful and cost-effective transfer of cutting edge technologies to schools and small businesses throughout the State of Florida. Through strategic alliances with NASA, the federal government, the aerospace industry and state partners – including the Department of Education and the Department of Community Affairs – TRDA is giving Floridians the edge to successfully compete in the new millennium. TRDA sponsors programs that enhance education, space research and economic development within the state.