Greenville ISD was recently awarded the Professional Development Partnerships for Advanced Math and Science Courses grant from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in the amount of $135,000. In partnership with the University of Texas at Tyler, the grant will allow Greenville ISD to implement a professional development program focused on improving teachers’ ability to integrate reliable, scientifically-based and technology-based teaching methods into secondary curriculum.

Greenville ISD has realized significant gains in math and science standardized test scores including a 91% passing rate on the Algebra 1 STAAR test, up from 67% just two years earlier. Don Jefferies, Superintendent, said of the grant and partnership, “This grant will help us extend our professional development programs to ensure continued advancement in math and science curriculum and instruction.”  

Through professional development, training, education, coaching, and a summer academy, GISD teachers will gain increased content knowledge in advanced math and science courses and be highly qualified to teach a broader mix of advanced courses at Greenville High School and New Horizons Learning Center.

Greenville ISD’s current Pre-K through 12^th grade STEM program features highly rigorous academic courses, rich field experiences, problem solving learning challenges, product oriented learning environments, and on-the-job exposure. Completion of a series of courses, including Advanced Placement and Dual Credit, along with a variety of defined experiences and academic challenges, are required to successfully complete each of the four STEM pathways. Pathway options include Mathematics, Robotics and Automation, Science and Solar Car.

Wes Underwood, Executive Director of Secondary Education, said that “with the increased academic courses, Greenville ISD will be able to offer more career paths to students in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) areas including Computer Science. The global economy requires high school graduates to possess higher levels of understanding and performance in these areas and this grant will advance our current programs.”

The grant period will be from October 1, 2015 until September 30, 2016.

For questions about the grant or Greenville ISD, please contact Kelli Tharp, Chief Communications and Business Development Officer, at tharpk@greenvilleisd.com.