Bacardi Funds Teacher Training through The Endeavour Academy

 
          Titusville, Fla. – Funding from the Bacardi companies will bring 18 teachers from schools across Dade County to NASA for a two-day training session on October 18 and 19, 2002. The special training session will prepare teachers to incorporate science and math into their classrooms using space principles and NASA resources.

 Teachers will train at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex with NASA education staff and Delaware North education personnel. Activities will include making and launching rockets, meeting Astronaut Jon McBride, viewing IMAX movies, and programs at the Educators Resource Center and also at the Exploration Station located at the Center for Space Education.

         “As a cornerstone of education reform, the No Child Left Behind Act signed into law by President Bush, requires that by the end of 2005-2006 school year there be a “highly qualified” teacher in every classroom,” says Foundation Executive Director Michelle Peters. “With state support combined with funding from private organizations and responsible citizens like Jorge Rodriguez Marquez, from the Bacardi companies, Florida will lead the way in better preparing our teachers for the classroom.”

         The Endeavour Academy was formed to help meet the mandate of the No Child Left Behind Act and address the findings of the John Glenn report. In order to leave no child behind, the Academy supports Florida’s teachers by giving them classroom resources and training.  Bacardi’s corporate funding will deliver unique, hands-on training using resources from the space program to help the Miami-Dade School District broaden teacher knowledge in the fields of math, science and technology.

         “Through Bacardi’s support, we can be assured more teachers will be better prepared to challenge, excite and inspire students in math, science and technology subjects,” says Rodriguez-Marquez.

Bacardi is the world’s largest privately held, family-owned premium spirits company and is the producer of the world’s great Bacardi rums. Bacardi rum is the globe’s number one international premium selling spirit brand.

           The Endeavour Academy is a unique professional development organization that offers diverse, hands-on resources and workshops to help attract, retain and train Florida’s teachers.