The Mathematics and Science Coaching Initiative began in 2003 with thirty-three coaches supported by the SC Department of Education's Mathematics & Science Unit. During that school year, these K-5 coaches worked with 780 teachers, providing an average of sixty contact hours of coaching per teacher.  Since that first cohort of coaches, the Regional Mathematics and Science Centers have trained and supported one-hundred and fifty school-based mathematics and science coaches who have worked with 3,500 teachers. 

An external evaluation has concluded that "when faithfully implemented, the Mathematics and Science Coaching Initiative is an effective and sustainable professional development strategy for increasing the capacity of teachers to provide standards-based instruction."  Data further indicate that students whose teachers have received coaching perform better on PACT than similar students whose teachers have not had the benefit of coaching.

Beginning with the 2006-07 school year,  South Carolina's Coalition for Mathematics and Science, began the iCoaching Initiative which trains and supports coaches at the middle school level. Our first cohort of 15 coaches is now actively working to improve instruction in science and mathematics.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR 2007/2008 iCOACHES.  This is a competitive process and the number of coaching positions supported is limited by grant resources available to SCCMS.

 

We invite you to examine the application materials.   (LINK for download of PDF here!!!)

For more information, please contact Dr.Tom Peters, Interim Director, South Carolina's Coalition for Mathematics and Science, at 864-656-1863 or tpeters@clemson.edu.