**Remarks by Secretary Spencer Abraham**

*And then there is the remarkable story of the Northern New Mexico Math
and Science Academy. This is an ambitious, collaborative effort
involving the Los Alamos lab that has energized students, teachers,
parents, and school board members by substantially improving student
test scores in math and science.*
[[http://www.energy.gov/news/1806.htm]{.underline}](http://energy.gov/engine/content.do?PUBLIC_ID=16144&BT_CODE=PR_SPEECHES&TT_CODE=PRESSSPEECH)

# Statement from Director G. Peter Nanos 

*The tremendous results from the laboratory\'s Math and Science Academy
were highlighted in a news release issued earlier today...That
program\'s goal \-- to increase student achievement by improving teacher
practice \-- is being realized not only in math and science classrooms,
but also in students\' overall achievement.*

<http://www.lanl.gov/worldview/news/releases/archive/04-065.shtml>

**Teachers and Principals** (From National Center for Research on
Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing \[CRESST\] reports):

**Teacher 1:** *One of the biggest changes in my instruction has come by
focusing on student learning and adjusting my teaching to students
needs. I've re-visited my cooperative learning strategies and refined
them in use. I'm more aware of the standards and benchmarks and the role
of teaching about the context.*

**Teacher 2:** *As a result of working MSA, I now analyze each and every
move I make in the classroom, always thinking about the students and
what they need. I almost debrief with myself on a class by class basis
to determine if the success that I want was present or if we need to
elaborate on a concept even more. The initial planning of lessons is the
biggest change in my teaching philosophies. I am actually planning with
assessment in mind first. I have never done that before.*

**Teacher 3:** *The coaching experience helped me to really focus on my
processes of teaching. Isolating specifics about lesson goals,
reteaching, etc. made me analyze, adjust and better my skills -- and I
didn't feel threatened by my coaches like I initially thought I would.
When my coach and I did our pre and post conferences, I surprised myself
that I knew my goals, etc. -- my responses were right on. How validating
as a teacher to have a real discussion about my teaching!*

**Principal 1:** *I've seen a lot of different projects in my time as an
administrator, but this one (MSA) seems to be different somehow.
Teachers are working more together as teams. In fact, their excitement
about MSA is influencing other non-MSA teachers. Everyone wants to be
part of the project and teach more effectively.*

**From CRESST Year Four Report:**

*Year 4 of the Math and Science Academy was a year of challenges and
successes, of rethinking, revising and revamping ideas, understandings
and conceptualizations. A powerful model for professional development
has emerged, one that encompasses the most important and essential
elements of providing quality instruction for students of all ages. MSA
continues to provide what research indicates is essential to quality
reform to be sustained and to grow; the context, the expectation and the
opportunities for teachers to learn what they need to know and practice
those skills in a reflective, continually improving manner.*