WORCESTER, Mass., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- EMC Corporation, the world leader in information management and storage, along with the Massachusetts Department of Education, today announced that the Massachusetts Mathematics Institute (MMI) has begun its fourth year of professional development for elementary school teachers. As part of EMC's continued focus on improving math and science education, the company has hosted and supported MMI since it was launched in 2003.
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Also announced today, a proposal to expand the program and extend it through the school year has received more than $230,000 in funding from the Massachusetts Department of Education. With these new funds, the MMI will offer in-class support and coaching, additional workshops and activities such as classroom visits, math days, tutoring and a math hotline, and perform rigorous evaluation of student outcomes.
Bill Teuber, EMC Vice Chairman, said, "Massachusetts students perform well above the national average on exams, but more must be done to raise student achievement. Through the Massachusetts Mathematics Institute, elementary school teachers receive the content knowledge they need to teach math more effectively and provide students with a strong foundation to succeed in high school, college and the workforce. EMC is proud to once again sponsor this important initiative for the teachers and students of the Commonwealth."
The MMI teacher training program provides elementary school teachers with a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of mathematics content. This year MMI is focused on eight elementary schools in the city of Worcester as a partnership among EMC, Worcester State College and the Worcester Public Schools. EMC and the Massachusetts Department of Education are pleased to co-sponsor this summer's group, which is expected to include 60 educators, more than double last year's participation.
Jim Caradonio, Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools, said, "A few years back, former EMC Chairman and CEO Mike Ruettgers came to Worcester's North High School and made an impassioned plea to teachers and students there for the mastery of mathematics in order to compete successfully in the 21st century as individuals, in businesses and as a nation. And EMC made a commitment to that vision. MMI is now a 3-way partnership between Worcester's schools, EMC and Worcester State College -- schools, business and higher education -- all 3 working in concert to understand the needs of each and the math preparation required of teachers if students are to advance."
Richard Bisk, Chair and Professor of Mathematics, Worcester State College, said, "Few students enter our colleges prepared to do serious work requiring mathematics. We encourage our students to focus on understanding, which can be a hard habit to develop when you're eighteen because mathematical potential is largely determined in elementary school. MMI helps elementary teachers reach the depth of understanding that is essential to developing that potential."
The program will be held at Worcester State College in Worcester, Mass., July 31-August 10. Teachers who participate in the program receive a stipend, professional-development points and optional graduate credit from Worcester State College.
EMC's Education Initiatives
To encourage area students to explore scientific, engineering and information technology fields, EMC also sponsors educational partnerships and programs including a partnership with Worcester's North High School and its Technology and Business Small Learning Community, co-ops, and internships for promising high school students. EMC also makes computer donations and supports science and engineering competitions such as FIRST Robotics and the Massachusetts State Science Fair.
For further information about EMC's math and science programs, visit http://www.emc.com/. Teachers interested in learning more about the Massachusetts Mathematics Institute program should contact representatives at
About EMC
EMC Corporation is the world leader in products, services and solutions for information management and storage that help organizations extract the maximum value from their information, at the lowest total cost, across every point in the information lifecycle. Information about EMC's products and services can be found at http://www.emc.com/.
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