|
||
SPACESHIP Description SPACESHIP is a collaborative of four founding organizations that have contributed twenty of their staff members. These staff members are actively engaged in and passionate about developing schools that provide high-quality educational options for underserved children. SPACESHIP combines world-class organizations and individuals with tremendous talents and passion: The Cesar E. Chavez Foundation, headquartered in Glendale, California, is experienced in curriculum development, instruction, professional development for teachers, and business and financial management. In 2002, the Foundation worked with the California Department of Education to create a K-12 Model Curriculum on Cesar Chavez for all public schools in California and co-developed six standards-based service-learning resource guides for classroom implementation. The Foundation has been successful in collaborating with schools, districts, and county offices of education in seven states to develop school-community partnerships. Through the Educating the Heart School Program, the Foundation works with over 100 schools throughout the nation and provides professional development in service-learning to more than 500 educators, youth/adult collaboration, and youth development. The Foundation has also recently begun development on the Cesar E. Chavez Learning Institute, an educational facility in Central California that will provide individuals and communities with leadership skills and the tools necessary to improve their lives and their communities. NASA Ames Research Center, in Mountain View, California, is the primary NASA center involved in the development and operation of the Space Exploration Academies. NASA has extensive instructional experience and curricula available for integration into SEA coursework. Several NASA teacher professional development programs will be made available to faculty of the Space Exploration Academies. NASA is also actively engaged in facilities improvements, particularly in technological capabilities, of school throughout the country. In May 2005, NASA coordinated with SPACESHIP partners to include West Oakland students at Cole Middle School in the 2005 filming of a NASA Connect broadcast--an award-winning educational program that reaches educators and students around the world. Other students in West Oakland were given the privilege of having dinner with Astronaut Rex Walheim. A Vex robot was also donated to by NASA to ensure the participation of West Oakland middle school students in NASA's online Robotics and Engineering course. Space Science Outreach and Research (SSOAR), based in Berkeley, California, promotes cultural exchange, science literacy, and technological advancement through collaborative projects for students throughout the Bay Area. Since December 2001, SSOAR has developed science curricula for middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities. SSOAR has been successful in implementing programs within the West Oakland community and has developed positive relationships with West Oakland students, community-based organizations, parents/guardians, and schools. University of California, Berkeley was recently ranked the 2nd best college in the world by the London Economic Times. The Pre-Engineering Partnership Initiative of the University of California, Berkeley (Cal PEP) aims to increase representation of underrepresented students in college engineering and mathematics programs. Cal PEP has specific experience in public school governance and coordinates after-school, weekend, and summer programs for underserved children throughout the East Bay, with specific emphasis in Oakland. Through the University of California, Berkeley College of Engineering, Cal PEP operates ADEPT- a program that pairs middle and high school teachers with doctoral students in UC Berkeley engineering programs. The partnerships derived through ADEPT are intended to improve university involvement in public school education, create innovative standards-based curricula in math and science, and encourage the professional development of teachers and prospective teachers.
SSOAR is the governing organization for the Space Exploration Academies, and UC Berkeley and the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation will contribute to their governance. NASA will serve as an advisory partner to the schools.
|
|