Lee Middle and High School unveils new AP courses

LEE – In an attempt to better prepare students for college, Lee Middle and High School has expanded their advanced placement (AP) course offerings for the 2012-2013 school year as part of the Massachusetts Math and Science Initiative (MMSI).

“This is the first step – a gigantic step – in changing the academic culture of this building,” said LMHS Principal Joseph P. Turmel.

“We have struggled for years in how to empower our AP programs,” added Lee Superintendent Jason P. McCandless.

Lee is partnering with Mass Insight Education for a three-year contract to participate in MMSI.

“This is a program we could never mimic on our own,” Dr. McCandless said. “It allows us to operate like a big school without the big school costs.”

STEM focus

This statewide effort is part of a larger focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education across the United States.

“This pool of money [MMSI] is to support programs…increasing student interest in STEM,” said Keith Connors, senior program manager of the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education’s STEM Pipeline Fund. “That’s where our jobs are now and will be in the future.”

Mr. Conners estimated of the approximate 240,000 jobs available in the commonwealth, about 190,000 of them are in STEM-related fields.

Increased student participation

At LMHS, fall enrollment in AP classes has increased by 484 percent in math, science and English. AP language and composition, statistics and biology have been added to the school’s offerings. AP English student numbers jumped from five to 30; mathematics, eight to 30; and science, zero to 16.

Amber Newton, a senior taking AP biology and English, hopes these classes will help prepare her for a career in medicine.

“I wanted more of a challenge,” she said of her reasoning behind taking her first two AP classes. “It’ll give me a head start for college.”

“It’s nice for the kids to have the opportunity to be ambitious,” added Principal Turmel.

Lee AP students began their studies over the summer.

“We did some summer work to get a head start,” Miss Newton said. “It’s a lot of hard work, but it pays off.”

Teachers learning too

Lee AP teachers are also putting in a lot of hard work, including taking time to participate in professional development activities specifically related to MMSI.

“One of the greatest aspects of this is the profesional development for the teachers,” Principal Turmel said.

This summer, Lee teachers Pamela A. Briggs, R. Mark Hungate, Tom McCormack and Jane McEvoy went to Bentley University in Waltham for professional development related to their AP classes.

“My training instructor was a grader for the AP exam,” Mr. McCormack, who teaches AP statistics, said. “She knew the authors of the textbooks we’re using – she was obviously someone who knows her stuff.”

Mass Insight sets goals, support

“The professional development and support we have received already from Mass Insight has been tremendous, and again, we believe this is just the beginning of a wonderful relationship,” Dr. McCandless said.

At a recent presentation for students and local officials, representatives of Mass Insight shared information about MMSI and the AP program.

“Advanced placement is an excellent way to challenge yourself,” John Smolenski, senior field director with Mass Insight, told the students.

Mass Insight’s goals for LMHS AP students include a jump from three scores of three or greater on AP English, math and science exams to 41.

In order to help students achieve this goal, Mass Insight will be hosting three out-of-school study sessions for both Lee and Drury High School (North Adams) AP students throughout the fall.

“The main reason we get good results is because students show up to the study sessions,” John Souther, Mass Insight’s math director, said.

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on September 20, 2012. Filed under Education News,Featured,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry