Silicon Valley
Education Initiatives
7 ways to get involved in local schools
Labratory for Learning
Math Training for Teachers
Given the importance of math and critical thinking skills in today’s high tech workplace,
it is the vision of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group that all students are proficient in algebra by the 9th grade. Accordingly, it is imperative that local teachers
are given the training resources they need to be successful.
In 2007, the Leadership Group, lead partner Intel, and member company sponsors successfully launched the pilot year of our math initiative, Silicon Valley: A Laboratory for Learning. This effort is one of a handful of programs in the country using the new Intel Math curriculum to deepen teachers’ knowledge of mathematics.
Last year, the Leadership Group successfully trained six trainers and 38 local classroom teachers, who completed 80 hours of professional development, and this year we will be reaching 62 additional Silicon Valley teachers.
To reach our goals and continue to expand this training, the initiative needs additional companies to serve as “champions” and make three-year commitments of $5,000 per year. Individuals may also choose to sponsor this teacher training, and all contributions are made to the Leadership Group’s 501c3 foundation, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation.
Thank you to the member company sponsors and our lead sponsor, Intel Corporation, whose generous support continues to move this effort ahead.
Please join us as we help to provide our local teachers and students with the tools that they need to succeed!
Dennis Cima | dcima@svlg.net | 408-501-7864
IISME
Summer Fellowships for Teachers
IISME, Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education, celebrating 25 years, is looking for corporations to provide summer internships for qualifying teachers. Highly skilled and enthusiastic teachers can provide valuable assistance to sponsor companies’ projects while gaining real world experience to bring back to the classroom and to their students. This is a win for students, teachers, and host companies. IISME has been leading the charge to give teachers the opportunity to keep current with ever changing technologies by providing fellowships at leading edge companies doing cutting edge work.
Jennifer Bruckner | jbruckner@iisme.org | 408-553-2249 | iisme.org
RAFT
Classroom Resources for Teachers
RAFT, Resource Area For Teaching, is looking for corporations to donate materials and supplies that can be used in classrooms for hands on projects to inspire learning and creativity. These materials provide creative hands on opportunities for preK-12 teachers and students. Hands on classroom activities inspire critical thinking and creativity in a magical way. Help us continue the magic with your corporate donations. Typical items are: office supplies, obsolete parts and supplies, production overruns on plastic, metal, ceramic parts, etc.
Mary Simon | msimon@raft.net | 408-451-1420 | raft.net
Role Model Program
Serving as a Role Model
The Role Model Program is a classroom based role modeling program for underserved students in the 4th through the 8th grade. Each year 200 amazing individuals sign on to serve as Role Models. Role Model volunteers
visit local elementary and/or middle school classrooms 6-8 times to teach the fun and interactive “Dare to Dream” curriculum. Role Models also have the opportunity to share their current professions, personal experiences
and stories to inspire children to dream big goals. All materials and curriculum training are provided to volunteers. It takes just one hour, once a week for 6-8 weeks, to become a Role Model volunteer. This is a great way to have a high impact in our community in a short amount of time.
Marybeth Affleck-Nacey | MBaffleck@rmp.org | 408-246-0433 | therolemodelprogram.org
EnCorps
Science & Math Teacher Workforce
EnCorps seeks career transitioning or retiring employees to teach underserved math and science in public school classrooms. Corporations can participate by advertising the program as well as providing scholarships to qualified candidates. You can build the next generation of engineers, mathematicians and scientists. “We want to make the EnCorps Teachers Program a model for the rest of the nation on how we can creatively work together and end the teacher shortage in California.” - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Jennifer Anastasoff | Jennifer@encorpsteachers.org | 415-596-1278 | encorpsteachers.org
Reading Partners
Reading Tutors
Reading Partners needs employee volunteers from your company to provide 1-on-1 tutoring to students both during the school day and after school using a structured, research-validated curriculum. Reading Partners provides free literacy intervention services to children in struggling elementary schools throughout Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles. Upon entering the program, the average Reading Partners student accelerates his or her progress by almost 300%, gaining an entire grade level in reading skills for every 30 hours of tutoring received.
Michael Lombardo | michael@readingpartners.org | 408-945-5721 | www.readingpartners.org
MOUSE Squad
Technology Skills
MOUSE Squad can use your employee volunteers to make a difference by working with students as they learn how to provide technical support to their own schools. Many Silicon Valley schools have computers in the classrooms, but not enough technicians to keep them running smoothly. Volunteers will enable upper elementary, middle and high school students to provide a service to their schools while learning 21st century information and communication technology, customer service, and leadership skills. A student-run help desk is set up to troubleshoot computers, printers, and other equipment, where students can put into practice what they have learned.
Kathleen Lynn | klynn@ca.mousesquad.org | 408-666-6261 | ca.mousesquad.org
