Innovative training to help schools prepare for End-of-Course exams
(DALLAS) – The Center for Educational ReVision (CerV®), a non-profit provider of professional training programs for teachers, today announced the donation of its Star Quality Resources™ program, to support Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings’ “GrowSouth” initiative. Established to strengthen neighborhoods to stimulate investment and economic development in southern Dallas, GrowSouth has a strong educational emphasis. This campaign includes “adopting” four DISD schools – Sarah Zumwalt and W.H. Atwell Middle Schools and W.H. Adamson and Lincoln High Schools – to encourage academic success as a foundation for long-term, sustainable community growth.
“Southern Dallas represents a tremendous opportunity for our entire city to reach new heights,” said Mayor Rawlings. “Education is a critical component toward improving the economic health and vibrancy of a community, and the generous donation of the Center for Educational ReVision will bring much-needed resources to position our teachers to nurture the next generation of leaders.”
CerV’s gift will provide professional development resources for teachers at Adamson High School and Lincoln High School and Humanities/Communications Magnet to prepare their students to meet the objectives of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR™) End-of-Course exams (EOC). Authored and presented by Texas-based master teachers and consultants, Star Quality Resources is a comprehensive series of twelve online courses in the four tested subjects: English, Math, Science and Social Studies. Each course is comprised of 24, 20-30 minute online video workshops and ancillary materials focusing on best practices to equip teachers for improved student performance.
This resource will be available to Adamson and Lincoln for the remainder of the school year and throughout the summer for self-paced learning to provide professional development opportunities.
“We are excited to join Mayor Rawlings on his quest to accelerate learning for students by providing innovative professional development for teachers in southern Dallas,” said Deborah E. Louis, president and chief executive officer of CerV. “Star Quality courses go far beyond the concept of ‘teaching to the test.’ Our goal is to provide teachers with the strategies and tools they need to offer a well-rounded educational experience for students who want to succeed in high school and beyond. Ultimately, we strive to empower teachers in an engaging format that is user-friendly, time-saving and effective.”
Louis initially began working with the Mayor and these schools through the Jane Schaffer Writing Program®, which is designed to help students master the elements of composition.
Star Quality Resources is a unique program that combines technology, collaboration and self-paced learning to create a “blended learning” environment. The online, on-demand interface enables educators to engage the program at their pace and discretion using desktops, laptops, and mobile devices. The result is a deeper, more flexible learning environment that is cost-effective when compared to traditional face-to-face workshops.
CerV will rollout additional Star Quality Resources courses over the next few months that will also be donated to the adopted schools. Courses will include Algebra 1, Biology, English I, World Geography, Geometry, Chemistry, English II, World History, Algebra 2, Physics, English III, and U. S. History.
About Center for Educational ReVison (CerV)
The Center for Educational ReVision™ (CerV) increases student achievement through innovative teacher mentoring programs, instructional technology integration, professional development products, and advanced academic readiness preparation. CerV is a non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation, funded through private foundations, individuals, and government grants committed to future development of innovations and technology. Headquartered in Dallas, CerV's mission is to value, impact, and support the teaching profession. For more information, visit: www.educationalrevision.org/.
