CHARLOTTE – May 2014 – Charlotte Teachers Institute (CTI) has accepted a new cohort of 104 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) teachers into its innovative, interdisciplinary seminars for 2014, involving new partnerships with Discovery Place and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture. “We are beyond excited to welcome our new CTI Fellows and provide them with the opportunity to work with icons of the scientific and cultural scene in the greater Charlotte community,” said CTI Executive Director Scott Gartlan. “These partnerships will provide full access for our teachers to explore ideas and artifacts in innovative ways to improve their curriculum.”
Four of CTI’s eight, seven-month, small group seminars will meet at Discovery Place:
• Artificial Intelligence – Raghuram Ramanujan, assistant professor of mathematics and computer science at Davidson College
• The Global Energy Challenge – Durwin Striplin, professor of chemistry, Davidson College
• Metamorphosis: Transformative Experiences – Amy Ringwood, associate professor of biological sciences at UNC Charlotte
• Intersections of Science Technology and Culture – Alan Rauch, professor of English at UNC Charlotte.
“Changes to science and technology happen rapidly, and it can be challenging for classroom educators to maintain an expert level of understanding in these technical concepts. Through our new Discovery Place Education Studio for professional development, we are thrilled to partner with Charlotte Teachers Institute to bring these learning experiences to our Charlotte teachers,” said Discovery Place President and CEO Catherine Horne.
The Harvey B. Gantt Center will host CTI’s Visual Storytelling in Children’s and Young Adult Literature seminar, led by UNC Charlotte Associate Professor of English Paula Connolly. “Enriching the education of K-12 students by serving as a resource for teachers is one of three strategic objectives that inform all that we do at the Harvey B. Gantt Center. This partnership with Charlotte Teachers Institute supports our objectives and will also allow us to increase access to traveling exhibitions and our permanent collection, particularly the John & Vivian Hewitt Collection of African-American Art. As a result of this collaboration, the Fellows have become an extension of our small staff and will help expand our reach exponentially,” said Harvey B. Gantt Center President and CEO David R. Taylor.
Two seminars take place at Davidson College (The Art of Fiction: Close Analysis, Style and the Novel led by Davidson’s Associate Professor of English Maria Fackler, and Human Agency led by Davidson Associate Professor of Philosophy Meghan Griffith). Heroes, Rebels and Rock Stars: Cultural Icons in Modern Europe led by UNC Charlotte Associate Professor of History Heather Perry meets on UNC Charlotte’s main campus.
CTI Fellows from all eight seminars began with an orientation at Discovery Place in April and will continue to meet in their individual seminar groups through November 2014. Gartlan noted that all 104 Fellows (13 teachers in each of the eight seminars) and the seminar leaders receive free Discovery Place and Gantt Center memberships to further their independent research and cultural connections in the community.
About Charlotte Teachers Institute
Through seminars led by UNC Charlotte and Davidson College faculty, CMS teachers learn new content, work collaboratively with other teachers, and develop new curricula for their students. Teachers serve as leaders in the institute and choose seminar topics they deem most important and engaging for current CMS teachers and their students. To date, more than 350 CMS teachers have participated in CTI seminars teaching more than 70,000 students.
An affiliate of the Yale National Initiative at Yale University, CTI provides high quality teacher professional development led by expert university and college faculty. Programs include seven-month long, content-rich seminars and special events for teachers, as well as community presentations such as the popular Exploding Canons cultural collaboration series. CTI and its partners were recognized by the Council of Great City Schools with its 2013 Shirley S. Schwartz Urban Education Impact Award.
CTI programs are made possible by a joint commitment of resources from CMS, Davidson College and UNC Charlotte and through the generosity of private funding institutions such as the Arthur Vining Davis Jr. Foundations, The Belk Foundation, Piedmont Natural Gas Foundation and the Wells Fargo Foundation. The institute is housed at UNC Charlotte within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
2014 CTI Fellows (by seminar) include:
Artificial Intelligence
Lisa Ashworth, Barringer Academic Center
Angela Bates, CATO Middle College High School
Aletha Bland, West Mecklenburg High School
Kara Boneillo, Reedy Creek Elementary School
Phil Carver, James Martin Middle School
Stephanie Coggins, Bailey Middle School
Katelyn Gardepe, David Cox Road Elementary School
Matthew Kelly, Independence High School
Aaron Kollar, Piedmont Open IB Middle School
Stephanie Misko, W.A. Hough High School
Tracey Surrett, Irwin Academic Center
Jill Ward, Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School
Lana Withrow, Barringer Academic Center
Heroes, Rebels and Rock Stars: Cultural Icons in Modern Europe
Amanda Armstrong, Carmel Middle School
Miranda Bellamy, James Martin Middle School
Mawuena Dabla-Egui, Harding University High School
Jennifer Dalesandro, Bain Elementary School
Kathryn Heinen, East Mecklenburg High School
Holly Lambert, Lincoln Heights Academy
Elizabeth Lasure, Mallard Creek High School
Joshua Lemere, Barringer Academic Center
Archie Livingston, Jr., Alexander Graham Middle School
Christina Sissoko, Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School
Mary Tew, Davidson Elementary School
Roshan Varghese, Butler High School
Brooke Wilson, West Mecklenburg High School
Human Agency
Morgan Andrews, W.A. Hough High School
Sean “Brad” Baker, W.A. Hough High School
Cassandra Black, Ashley Park Elementary School
Laura Champury, Francis Bradley Middle School
Constance Danna, Lebanon Road Elementary School
Lewis Davidson, Mallard Creek High School
Lisa Hagen, North Mecklenburg High School
Torrieann Dooley Kennedy, David Cox Road Elementary School
Amy LaLonde, Tuckaseegee Elementary School
Kendra McCall, Reedy Creek Elementary School
Erin Muffler, Barringer Academic Center
Heather Nash, East Mecklenburg High School
Hannah Wenger, Harding University High School
Intersections of Science, Technology and Culture
Rosa Bockian, Collinswood Language Academy
Stefanie Carter-Dodson, Southwest Middle School
Georgina Fiorentino, Reedy Creek Elementary School
Tavia Highsmith, Albemarle Road Middle School
Michele Lemere, Garinger High School
Christian Lott, West Mecklenburg High School
Melanie Mowry, Francis Bradley Middle School
Wendy Potter, Butler High School
Kari Rhoades, Mallard Creek High School
Debra Semmler, East Mecklenburg High School
Jennifer Thompson, James Martin Middle School
Michelle Tufano, W. A. Hough High School
Richard Whitehead, Northwest School of the Arts
Metamorphosis: Transformative Experiences
Cynthia Benes, Harding University High School
Sheena Burrus, Clear Creek Elementary School
Caitlin Cook, Bain Elementary School
Mary Fabian, CATO Middle College High School
Nikki Guevara, Bain Elementary School
Maebeth Hill, North Mecklenburg High School
Janet Raybon, Myers Park High School
Julie Ruziska Tiddy, Carmel Middle School
Rima Solh, Eastway Middle School
Rochelle Stanley, Garinger High School
Alan Vitale, W.A. Hough High School
Connie Wood, East Mecklenburg High School
Cynthia Woolery, Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School
The Art of Fiction: Close Analysis, Style and the Novel
Angela Burke, Vance High School
Calen Clifton, Martin Luther King Middle School
Tiffany Craig, Allenbrook Elementary School
Kayla D’Allura, Collinswood Language Academy
Alexandra Edwards, Bailey Middle School
Angelina McCurry, Alexander Graham Middle School
Jennifer Ladanyi, Bailey Middle School
Courtney McNair, Butler High School
Megan Shellenberger, W.A. Hough High School
Elizabeth Smiley, Torrence Creek Elementary School
Amy Stokes, Lebanon Road Elementary School
Christina Varney, Stoney Creek Elementary School
The Global Energy Challenge
Gloria Brinkman, North Mecklenburg High School
Jeanne Cooper, Mallard Creek High School
NaToya Dingle, Coulwood Middle School
DeNise Gerst, Barringer Academic Center
Melanie Kirschner, Albemarle Road Elementary School
Lisa Lewis, Collinswood Language Academy
Robin Mitchell, Randolph Middle School
Delanie Reavis-Bey, Crestdale Middle School
Adora Reid, James Martin Middle School
Jacquelyn Smith, W.A. Hough High School
Kory Trosclair, Bailey Middle School
Rachel Varghese, Butler High School
Alicia Waters, Grand Oak Elementary School
Visual Storytelling in Children’s and YA Literature
Angela Boyce-Thornton, Ashley Park PreK-8 School
Justine Busto, East Mecklenburg High School
Brandy Daniels, Irwin Academic Center
Deborah Ferris, Hopewell High School
Miesha Gadsden, Lansdowne Elementary School
Mary Catherine, Grant David Cox Road Elementary School
Danielle Gregory, Albemarle Road Elementary School
Tara Lee, Bailey Middle School
Ebone Lockett, West Mecklenburg High School
Delee Marciano, Randolph Middle School
Kimberly Palmer,Ridge Road Middle School
Teresa Strohl, Barringer Academic Center
Barbara Wesselman, Northwest School of the Arts
For more information, contact CTI Executive Director Scott Gartlan, 704-687-0078, scott.gartlan@uncc.edu
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools media contact: Tahira Stalberte, 980-343-0954 tahira.stalberte@cms.k12.nc.us
Davidson College Public Relations media contact: Bill Giduz, 704-894-2244, bigiduz@davidson.edu
UNC Charlotte Public Relations media contact: Buffie Stephens, 704-687-5830, BuffieStephens@uncc.edu
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