Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-41) is pictured here with Mark Ginsberg, Dean of the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University and Ashley Hart, a teacher from Willow Springs Elementary School in Fairfax. Photo contributed
On Tuesday, July 15, the Virginia Initiative for Science Teaching and Achievement (VISTA), in conjunction with the George Mason University College of Education and Human Development, held a day-long program that focused on advancing science education in Fairfax County schools.
The workshop was an opportunity for both students and teachers to gain a better understanding of science education and instruction. The program also focused on enhancing the comprehension of scientific subjects by all students, including those with special needs. A major objective is to maximize the quality of elementary science education by increasing the number of certified middle school and high school science teachers.
Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-41) joined the participants in witnessing firsthand the efforts of VISTA and GMU in fostering science education throughout the state. “I was incredibly impressed by the program that VISTA organized, bringing together students and teachers to enhance their knowledge and teaching ability of science based material. STEM degrees are preparing our children for the jobs of the future. VISTA has recognized this and is aiming to give Virginia students the best chance of succeeding going forward,” said Filler-Corn.
Similar all-day workshops have also been held at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, at VCU in Richmond, and at William & Mary in Williamsburg. In the Fairfax program, the students tackled a real-life scenario of construction run-off causing dead zones in the Chesapeake Bay that are no longer able to sustain natural habitats. The students' objective was to develop methods for mitigating the environmental impact of construction at George Mason University on the Chesapeake Watershed ecosystem.
Del. Filler-Corn added, "These impressive students are examining real problems facing our communities and the Commonwealth as a whole. With the assistance of certified science instructors and an increased emphasis on STEM education, VISTA is helping ensure that these real-world challenges can be addressed by our next generation of leaders. I was pleased to be able to join them and I look forward to continuing my involvement with VISTA's efforts in the future."
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