Education Commons^™

Personal Reflections / 12.20.17, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

As 2017 comes to a close, I want to wish you and your loved ones happy holidays and a very happy New Year. For those who celebrated Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, happy belated holidays to you!

For this personal reflection, I want to take time to amplify our very important IMSA faculty. I have enjoyed the many one-on-one conversations with individual faculty members this fall. While I have not yet finished meeting with each one, I’m at number 42, my appreciation, esteem, and respect continues to increase for each of them. I have learned first-hand of their tireless efforts in teaching, …

Report Of The President / November 15, 2017, José M. Torres

President's Report

To provide Trustees with a report of activities and efforts of note, I organize the Report of the President, where appropriate, around the Priorities for 2017-2018:

• Guide the integration of UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals
• Advance equity and excellence
• Host the International Student Science Fair in June 2018
• Meet the 12 targets proposed on the IMSA Operational Excellence Dashboard organized under the seven Priority Outcomes

Personal Reflections / 11.2.17, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

Just as my last Personal Reflection was a little different in that I focused on our recent athletic accomplishments, this Reflection mostly focuses on my recent trip to Puerto Rico. But first, I am pleased and proud to announce that on Monday, October 30, IN2 was named a Chicago Innovation 2017 Award winner for the People's Choice Award. IN2 Steve and Jamie Chen Center for Innovation & Inquiry opened in 2017 as a model for U.S. education that empowers young people to transform their ideas into reality and solutions to the complex social challenges of our time through entrepreneurship and …

Imsa: Innovating Stem Education, Britta W. Mckenna

Publications & Research

The mission of IMSA, the world’s leading teaching and learning laboratory for imagination and inquiry, is to ignite and nurture creative, ethical, scientific minds that advance the human condition.

Personal Reflections / 10.20.17, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

In a departure from focusing on academic achievements, innovation and operational topics, I would like to turn to our most recent athletic accomplishments in this Reflection.

On the field, the boys soccer team had one of its most successful seasons ever. They claimed the conference championship for the first time in program history, won a first ever 2A regional game and finished with a 16-3-1 record.

On the greens, IMSA sophomore T.J. Ptak advanced to the IHSA Boys State Golf Tournament and placed 65th. T.J. was the first golfer in IMSA’s co-ed program history to make it to state since …

Imsa360: Fall 2017, Imsa Fund

IMSA Fund Reports

Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year! It’s a special academic year in that we begin the school year with a full budget! Over the past three years, our colleagues in public schools (K-12), who are under the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), began their school year with a full budget while IMSA and the rest of the universities, which are under the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), began and operated most of the past two years without a full budget.

Excerpt: From the President

Stem Storytelling: Using Picture Books To Integrate Mathematics - "Who Lives Here?", Lindsey Herlehy, Karen Togliatti

Publications & Research

This series of activities invites students to explore animals and their habitats, classify “animal” figures by habitat, sort, represent, and analyze data. In the first activity, the picture book Listen to Our World by Bill Martin, Jr. and Michael Sampson will be used to discuss eleven different animals and their habitats. Questioning strategies will focus on student comprehension and inferential reasoning skills related to why each animal lives in a particular type of habitat. This book is utilized at all grade levels to introduce the subsequent activity.

The grade-level activities that follow integrate students’ knowledge of animals and their habitats …

Learning Opportunities 2017/2018, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Course Catalogs

The graduation requirements of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy are in concert with those maintained by the State of Illinois with additional requirements as established by the IMSA Board of Trustees. Each semester students must take a minimum of five courses (2.5 credits) for a letter grade (not Pass/Fail) not including Fine Arts, Wellness, and Independent Study courses. Only courses taken for a letter grade will count towards graduation credit.

Personal Reflections / 9.29.17, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

Many of you know that I have family in Puerto Rico–mom, brother, and other extended family and you have been kind enough to ask me about their welfare. My mom and brother are physically safe. Through my mom, I have heard that my other family members are also safe. Emotionally and psychologically, my family and the people of Puerto Rico are suffering in ways that I have never seen in my 57 years of life. It breaks my heart to see through social media the devastation of the island. The desperation and stress levels continue to increase as the relief …

Report Of The President / September 20, 2017, José M. Torres

President's Report

To provide Trustees with a report of activities and efforts of note, I organize the Report of the President, where appropriate, around the Priorities for 2017-2018:

• Guide the integration of UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals
• Advance equity and excellence
• Host the International Student Science Fair in June 2018
• Meet the 12 targets proposed on the IMSA Operational Excellence Dashboard organized under the seven Priority Outcomes

Personal Reflections / 8.23.17, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year! It’s a special Academic Year in that we begin the school year with a full budget! Over the past three years, our colleagues in public schools (K-12), who are under the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), began their school year with a full budget while IMSA and the rest of the universities, which are under the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), began and operated most of the past two years without a full budget. We begin the school year with great energy fresh from a summer of alumni engagement, youth camps in …

2017 Convocation, Rebecca Xun '18, José M. Torres, Robert Hernandez, Gouthami Rao '08

Convocation

• Welcome: Katie Berger, Executive Director of Student Affairs
  
• Pledge of Allegiance: Rebecca Xun '18, Student Council President
• Opening Remarks: José M. Torres, Ph.D., President
• Opening Remarks: Robert Hernandez, Ph.D., Principal
• Featured Musical Selection: Nathan Huxtable, Class of 2014
• Keynote Address: Gouthami Rao, Class of 2008, Senior Policy Advisor to the Under Secretary of Education at the U.S. Department of Education
• Closing Remarks: Robert Hernandez, Ph.D., Principal

2017 Diversity Climate Survey, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Resources

In February 2017, a survey regarding diversity and school climate was administered by the Diversity Committee based off of the National Climate Survey developed by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). There were a total of 577 students that took the survey. Those students who had incomplete surveys (n = 20) or who marked all possible choices for sexual orientation (n = 3) were excluded from the data analysis, and the remaining 554 respondents were considered “authentic.”Of the 554 authentic respondents, 203 were sophomores, 169 were juniors, 176 were seniors, and six did not indicate their grade level. …

2017 Annual Report Of The Work In Imsa’S Archives, Marti Guarin, Christian D. Nokkentved

Archives' Annual Report

The IMSA Archives, housed in the Leto M. Furnas Information Resource Center, serves to collect and preserve materials relating to the history and ethos of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and the activities of its students, faculty and staff. Our collection includes materials about IMSA’s establishment, led by Dr. Leon Lederman and Governor James Thompson; the Academy's development since 1986; its ideas and programs; partnership programs for educators and schools state- and nationwide; and the lives of its students, alumni, and staff.

Personal Reflections / 7.10.17, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

After almost three years without a state budget, IMSA finally has a budget for FY 2018, which began July 1, 2017. On July 6, the House overrode the veto of the Governor on SB 6 with 74 votes (71 votes required). It is now law. The House overrode the vetoes of the other two budget related bills (SB 9: Revenue – 71 votes and SB 42: Budget Implementation – 71 votes). They are now law as well.

Personal Reflections / 6.8.17, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

Congratulations on a successful completion of the 2016-2017 academic year! For this final reflection of the year, I wanted to share with you my commencement speech to the Class of 2017.

We have been celebrating our 30th anniversary this past year. Therefore, I want to reflect back on our first graduating class, the Class of 1989. The Commencement program included the following quote from Dr. Carl Sagan.

Commencement Of The Class Of 2017, Madison Dong '17, Mateusz Cikowski '17, Paula Olszewski-Kubilius, Beth Purvis, José M. Torres, Marie Dahleh

Ceremony

No abstract provided.

Peer Teaching In A Thematic Unit On Russian Fairy Tales, Paavo Husen

Russian

The goals of the Russian fairy tale unit are to increase presentational, interpretive, and interpersonal communicative Russian skills by encouraging students to speak spontaneously in Russian, to express personal opinions, and to ask clarifying questions. This unit addresses reading, speaking, listening, and writing; truly an integrated task that can help to prepare students for the NEWL Russian (Prototype AP® Russian). Still another benefit of this unit is cultural; students become aware of and familiar with the characters, structure, and vocabulary of Russian fairy tales.

Report Of The President / May 17, 2017, José M. Torres

President's Report

To provide Trustees with a report of activities and efforts of note, I organize the Report of the President, where appropriate, around the Priorities for 2016-2017 (a) Finalize and publish an “IMSA Operational Excellence Dashboard;” (b) Strengthen identity as a learning laboratory as expressed through grand challenges; (c) Develop and nurture my direct reports’ leadership orientation, equity commitment, and systems level management; and (d) Prepare original material suitable for publication as evidence of IMSA thought leadership and the Leadership Profile Components used by the Trustees to evaluate the President’s performance: (1) Institutional Planning (and Executing); (2) Financial/Business Model; (3) Innovations …

Personal Reflections / 5.4.17, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

You should have seen them! On May 1, our seniors wore spirit wear for the college or university that they have decided to attend as part of “College Day” which capped off an eventful year for IMSA including the marking of our 30-year anniversary. The Class of 2017 is headed to institutions near and far from Northwestern University, the Illinois Institute of Technology and University of Chicago to MIT, Yale, Vanderbilt, and Harvard. Our students are counting down the days before they leave IMSA, their home for the past three years. Like a proud parent, I envision their lives full …

To Engage Students In Stem, Engage Them In The World, José M. Torres

Publications & Research

Over the coming years, the next generation of bright young minds will have to confront climate change, humanitarian crises, income inequality, and the other great challenges of our age. But for now, those challenges can provide them with great opportunities to learn. By bringing such topics into the classroom, teachers can tap into students' intrinsic motivation to grapple with authentic, real-world problems that truly matter, both at the local and global levels. Further, because these topics are so complex, they invite students to wrestle with ideas that reach across the academic content areas, requiring them to integrate their knowledge of …

Parents’ Perspective On Diversifying The Stem Education To Career Pipeline: Motivating Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Gifted/Talented Students To Engage In Stem, Adrienne Coleman

Publications & Research

According to the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME), there is a lack of diversity in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and careers. The 2013 U.S. Census Bureau indicates that Blacks and Latinos are underrepresented in STEM, with each group making up less than 7% of the STEM workforce; while Whites are overrepresented, making up 70% of the workforce (2013). However, the 2016 Illinois STEM report card suggests that 24% of Black and 28% of Hispanic high school students are interested in STEM. The Research Consortium on STEM Career Pathways further indicates that 21% of Blacks …

Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy: Student Outcomes And Economic Impacts, Northern Illinois University Center For Governmental Studies

Impact Reports

No abstract provided.

Asynchronous Gifted Students & Human Rights Education: A Residential Life Curriculum Guide Aimed At Supporting Subcultures And Underrepresented Populations, Derek M. Lough

Staff Publications & Research

This Masters Field Project for the International & Multicultural Education Department at the University of San Francisco serves to provide an incomplete, but fairly comprehensive guide to studies that describe the general educational situations of subcultures and underrepresented populations within the context of gifted education and the framework of human rights education. The programs within it adhere to the standards set for Residential Life at the Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy, follow Dr. Monisha Bajaj's six steps for a complete human rights education in the field while also incorporating Dabrowski's Theory of Disintegration.

Stem Integration: Math, Meet Biology!, Lindsey Herlehy, Karen Togliatti

Publications & Research

Join us for three hands-on, inquiry-based activities integrating mathematical and scientific thinking. First, explore patterns in the powers of ten and use this information to sort a set of images and design a scale model of an E. coli's DNA. Then, simulate a colorful biotechnology application using new tools and laboratory skills. Art, science, and math intersect in an activity merging coordinate geometry, symmetry, and biotechnology skills. NGSS and CCSS practice standards will be demonstrated.

Recipient Of The 2017 Alumni Trailblazer Award, Claudia Flores '93

Alumni Trailblazer Award

Ms. Flores is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC) at The University of Chicago Law School. IHRC works to promote and protect the human rights of individuals and communities globally. Prior to The University of Chicago Law School, Flores was a partner in the civil rights practice of Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd. Additionally, she served as constitutional and legal advisor for the United Nations in East Timor and Zimbabwe. She also managed a program of the American Center for International Labor Solidarity to combat human trafficking in Indonesia …

Recipient Of The 2017 Alumni Distinguished Leadership Award, Vincent Enriquez '99

Alumni Distinguished Leadership Award

Major Enriquez served as part of Operation Enduring Freedom with deployments in Afghanistan and PACOM Theater. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Sapper Tab, Ranger Tab, and Special Forces Tab. His foreign awards include the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold), and Australian, Korean, and Thai Airborne Wings. Army Ranger and Special Forces “Green Beret” Major Vincent Enriquez graduated from the United States Military Academy with a …

Recipient Of The 2017 Alumni Distinguished Leadership Award, Julie Comerford '98

Alumni Distinguished Leadership Award

Dr. Comerford is Assistant Professor in the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she works on observations of kpc-scale separation dual supermassive black holes in merger-remnant galaxies. These objects are observable when one or both of the supermassive black holes accrete gas as active galactic nuclei (AGN), in systems known as offset AGN and dual AGN, respectively. She uses research as a tool for education, teaming up with PhD Comics to create a video “Black Holes Explained,” which has received over 50,000 views on YouTube. Additionally, she has been working to improve equity …

Report Of The President / March 15, 2017, José M. Torres

President's Report

To provide Trustees with a report of activities and efforts of note, I organize the Report of the President, where appropriate, around the Priorities for 2016-2017 (a) Finalize and publish an “IMSA Operational Excellence Dashboard;” (b) Strengthen identity as a learning laboratory as expressed through grand challenges; (c) Develop and nurture my direct reports’ leadership orientation, equity commitment, and systems level management; and (d) Prepare original material suitable for publication as evidence of IMSA thought leadership and the Leadership Profile Components used by the Trustees to evaluate the President’s performance: (1) Institutional Planning (and Executing); (2) Financial/Business Model; (3) Innovations …

Personal Reflections / 3.13.17, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

Have you ever wanted to “stop the world” and get out of the rat race? What if we could hit the “pause” button? For this reflection, I’m pushing the “pause” button from all of the budget and racial anxiety.

Earlier this week, I was reminded of the importance of "gratitude" while reading Naked Spirituality, a book authored by a friend, Brian McLaren. Brian illustrates the importance of appreciating what we have by reminding us of the Joni Mitchell song, "Big Yellow Taxi." The refrain of Joni's song includes, "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've …