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For Immediate Release
January 16, 2004

Local Teachers Participate in CBIA Emerging Technologies Program

Twenty-one teachers from across Connecticut have been selected to participate in a two-year National Science Foundation (NSF) grant program aimed at educating teachers about emerging technologies in the workplace. The program is being administered by the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) in collaboration with the Connecticut State Community College System.

     The community college and high school math, science and technology teachers will complete a two-year program that includes seminars, workshops and conferences emphasizing current technologies being used in engineering, biomedical engineering, computer science and manufacturing. The program focuses on an externship, allowing teachers to work in a Connecticut company getting hands-on experience with the technologies used in business. The program culminates with work-based projects that the teachers present to their students.

     The program will help educators develop a greater understanding of business technology so they can create programs in their schools that align with the skills needed in today’s economy. “There are not a lot of programs designed to give educators, particularly community college faculty, practical experiences in the business world,” says Lauren Weisberg Kaufman, CBIA vice president and director of the association’s Education Foundation. “Educators who participate in professional development programs and business externships have an opportunity to engage their students in more active learning experiences and better prepare them for the future.”

     Last year, 24 teachers participated in the program. They, along with the 21 new teachers were selected for their commitment to learning about technological advances that will give students a more realistic understanding of how classroom learning can be applied on the job. Technologies being used in manufacturing, engineering (including biomedical engineering) and information technology will be the focus.

     The new group of participating teachers includes:

  • Bridget Berechid of Southbury, a chemistry teacher at Newtown High School in Sandy Hook

  • Ingrid Burke of Colebrook, a biology teacher at Northwestern Regional #7HS in Winsted

  • Mark Busa who teaches physics at Middlesex Community College in Middletown

  • Jean Marc Cenet of Wethersfield, a math teacher at Tunxis Community College in Farmington

  • Jim Clarke of Southington, a manufacturing specialist at A.I. Prince Vocational Technical School in Hartford

  • Tara Coelho of Shelton, a biology teacher at Newtown High School in Sandy Hook

  • Tanya Dwellingham of Waterbury, a math teacher at Eli Whitney Vocational Technical School in Hamden

  • Robert Drown, a science teacher at A.I. Price Vocational Technical School in Hartford

  • Gerry Gerard of Hamden, who teaches technology at Gateway Community College in New Haven

  • Sharon Gusky of Canton, a biology teacher at Northwestern Community College in Winsted

  • Lynne Laskowski who teaches biology at Tunxis Community College in Farmington

  • David Lee of Rockville, who teaches “Project Lead the Way” pre-engineering classes at Bristol Central High School

  • Walter Nakonechny of Newington, a biology and biotechnology teacher at Farmington High School

  • Linda Navitsky of New Hartford, a biology teacher at Tunxis Community College in Farmington

  • Peter Poulos of Willimantic, who teaches engineering at Manchester Community College

  • Chris Prytko of Tolland, who teaches computer-aided design at Manchester High School

  • Susan Sernoffsky of Burlington, a biology teacher at Manchester High School

  • Bob Thomas of Bristol, a math teacher at Farmington High School

  • Wilma Toney of West Hartford, the chairperson of the chemistry, biology and science departments at Manchester High School

  • Lou Wanat of Suffield, a math teacher at Suffield High School

  • Shirley Zajdel of Stamford, a biology teacher at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport

     The teachers will participate in a number of activities including:

  • A visit to Pfizer Inc., in Groton to learn about the technology used in drug discoveries;

  • Workshop and training sessions for three-dimensional engineering software;

  • A technology exposition highlighting cutting-edge technologies being used in Connecticut companies;

  • A visit to the Hartford Financial Group’s Industrial Hygiene Lab; and

  • An externship working in a Connecticut company getting hands-on experience with the technologies used in business.

CBIA is one of 60 institutions nationwide to be awarded a three-year NSF grant. The program is part of the NSF’s Advanced Technological Education Program, under which CBIA was awarded $638,000.

CBIA is Connecticut’s largest business organization, with 10,000 members.

For more information on the role CBIA plays with the NSF grant, click here.

Media wishing to attend the event should contact Nancy Andrews, CBIA media relations manager, at 860-244-1957 or andrewsn@cbia.com.

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