News Release

October 13, 2003

For Immediate Release

 

Novato Charter School Teacher Wins Fellowship

 

Novato Charter School teacher Rick Betz recently won a fellowship from the Sonoma Teaching Project which enabled him to attend a two-week field seminar on field studies at the University of Durham in England.

 

Field studies combine observations of environmental changes and the interaction between people and their physical environment. Following a geographical “in the field” approach, this learning method emphasizes direct inquiry and observation of students’ local communities and physical environments.

 

“In the upper grades, Novato Charter School students study science through first-hand experience and careful observation,” says Rachael Bishop Director of Novato Charter School. “This program will strengthen our science curriculum and encourage environmental awareness and community involvement among students.”

 

Betz will set up this new teaching approach in his eighth grade classroom as a model for the other middle schools and will train teachers to implement the new curriculum. In the model program, Novato Charter School students will study the San Pablo Bay and Marin headlands.

Sonoma Teaching Project is a non-profit organization promoting teacher
training seminars in field study techniques. Recipients of the Sonoma Teaching Project fellowship are chosen through an interview process that considers professional experience, interest in the project and the level of support offered by the recipient’s school.

In addition to attending the two-week seminar at the University of Durham, recipients attend follow-up lectures, seminars, field classes and discussions of curriculum projects throughout 2003-04 school year.

 

For more information about Novato Charter School, call 883-4254 or visit their web site at www.novatocharterschool.org.

 

Contact: Rachael Bishop, Director, Novato Charter School at 415.883.4254