Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/01/2010 -- The College of Saint Rose and Time Warner Cable have teamed up to help schoolchildren develop a curiosity and excitement for learning math and science.

A new three-year grant to Saint Rose marks Time Warner Cable’s first “Connect a Million Minds” commitment to an educational institution in the Capital Region. During this partnership with Time Warner Cable, Saint Rose will establish the “Time Warner Cable Teacher Training Center” to coordinate the College’s math and science teacher professional development programs, as a part of the College’s Institute for Science and Mathematics Education. Saint Rose and Time Warner Cable anticipate reaching 150 teachers from high-needs school districts throughout the region, ultimately impacting nearly 6,000 children.

John Quigley, Time Warner Cable area vice president of operations, presented the grant to Saint Rose President Dr. R. Mark Sullivan at a ceremony in Albany today and observed the first of this summer’s teacher workshops. Saint Rose faculty will conduct three-day training workshops during the summer and in-school professional development during the academic year in hands-on, problem-based teaching techniques. In addition, the College will develop podcasts and On-Demand Videos to be available throughout Time Warner Cable’s cable and Internet systems.

Time Warner Cable launched in late 2009 a new philanthropic initiative to strengthen the nation’s economic competitiveness by improving education and interest in science, technology, engineering and math. “Connect a Million Minds” is a five-year, $100 million program that will focus on the issue, and inspire students by connecting them with hands-on opportunities in non-traditional ways.

Saint Rose President Sullivan said: “If we don’t connect children to science and math by the fifth grade, we may never gain their interest in these all-important fields. The programs that we will conduct through the new Time Warner Cable Teacher Training Center will enable us to engage children early on and, hopefully, spark their desire to become the future leaders of Tech Valley. We are proud and honored that Time Warner Cable has selected Saint Rose as its first education ‘Connect a Million Minds’ partner in the Capital Region.”

Time Warner Cable Vice President Quigley said: “The Time Warner Cable Teacher Training Center is a shining example of the ability to leverage our technical expertise and local resources to address the deficit in science and math education among our nation’s youth. We are pleased to have The College of Saint Rose and Dr. Mark Sullivan as our first Capital Region educational partners in our ‘Connect a Million Minds’ initiative, and are confident that the teachers who graduate from this innovative program will possess the skills and knowledge to engage, excite and prepare our youth for the jobs of tomorrow. No company or educational institution can achieve this goal alone. For this reason, Time Warner Cable is dedicated to establishing networks at both the local and national level to achieve the necessary synergies to bridge this educational divide. As a national corporation with deep local roots, we believe we are uniquely positioned to help build those networks.”

In 2005, a National Academies of Sciences and Engineering report called attention to a national, regional and local science and mathematics literacy crisis. The report asserted that U.S. students no longer place in the top ranks in international test scores in math and sciences; the number of U.S. patents and scholarly publications are declining; scientific and technology businesses are moving overseas at a high rate; and the level of scientific literacy among the general population is alarmingly low. A 2007 update urged increasing the nation’s talent pool by vastly improving K-12 science and math education and strengthening the skills of teachers through summer institutes.

In response, Saint Rose established its Institute for Science and Mathematics Education to improve instruction in science and mathematics at all levels of the education system and develop innovative curricular programs in science and mathematics education. Led by Dr. Richard Thompson, dean of the College’s School of Mathematics and Sciences, programs center on advocacy of core academic curricula taught through problem-based learning and hands-on methodologies. Teachers receive training through summer workshops and follow-up school-based sessions to ensure proper implementation of the New York State Department of Education’s strengthened science content and skills standards for K-12 students. The institute also provides a platform for coordinating and leveraging the Capital Region’s resources and programs, and conducts research into new learning strategies and ways to help students understand mathematics and science.

On the Web:

The College of Saint Rose: http:/www.strose.edu
Time Warner Cable “Connect a Million Minds”: http://www.connectamillionminds.com
The College of Saint Rose Experts Directory online: http://www.strose.edu/expertsdirectory