Five East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) teachers have won awards this month from the Louisiana Legislature’s state Quality Science and Mathematics Grant Program (QSM).  Established in 1992, the program provides Science and Math teachers at public schools funding for materials and equipment.

Each year, QSM grants are awarded on a competitive basis to individual K-12 classroom teachers across the state to use in providing standards-based instruction. Applicants must prove their proposals will enhance the quality of instruction for regular education students who are enrolled in mathematics or science classes.  The maximum award is $750 per teacher. 

The five EBRPSS recipients of the 2009-2010 QSM awards are:

*  Phil Blanchard, a Capitol Middle School Math teacher -- $680 to introduce more technology into his classroom.  Funds from the award will be used to purchase accessories for an existing ActiveBoard.

*  Lai Cao, a Baton Rouge Magnet High School science teacher -- $748 to use technological equipment to enhance student learning in her Physics classes. Funds from the award will be used to purchase a LabQuest interface and robotic eco-power energy sets for her students to conduct hands-on activities. These activities will allow Cao’s students to work in groups to collect and analyze data, design lab experiments relating to energy and stimulate their interest in physics and engineering.

*  Angela Delaroderie, a Shenandoah Elementary School teacher -- $749 to increase student achievement in Science and Math through hands-on activities and real-life problem solving.  Funds will be used to purchase a variety of Physics and Chemistry equipment, Science kits and Math manipulatives for her third-grade students.

*  Sara Nowak, a Winbourne Elementary School teacher -- $750 to integrate children’s literature into Math instruction.  Funds from the award will be used to purchase 50-75 popular children’s books related to Math topics, such as number sense, money, time and measurement. 

*  Mark Zweig, M.D., a Glasgow Middle School Math teacher -- $748 to integrate technology into his Math class. Funds from the award will purchase a MIMIO portable, interactive SMART BOARD.