What Schools Are Saying

"I am writing to express my appreciation for the professional development and technical support that the State Education and Environment Roundtable has provided to Concrete Middle School staff, students and community as they implemented the EIC Model™ over the past three years.
"Thank you and your staff for your commitment to facilitating the Concrete Middle School community as we developed and implemented learning opportunities that not only increased our students standards-based knowledge and skills but also increased their understanding of and commitment to their communities.
Dr. Marie Phillips, Superintendent
Concrete School District
Washington

"The EIC Model™ provided a structure that helped our fourth- and fifth-grade students and teachers collaborate at and across grade levels as they worked to investigate waste and resource conservation issues on Winnetka's campus.
"Our teachers found it especially helpful to have the professional development and technical support we received from the State Education and Environment Roundtable (SEER). With their help we were able to learn about the EIC Model™ and use it to design and strengthen Winnetka's standards-based instructional program."
María Niní Villaseñor, Principal
Winnetka Avenue Elementary School
Los Angeles

"To summarize the highlights of our EIC Model™, I would place everyone students, staff and administration all working and focused on a common goal as one of our greatest accomplishments. As a staff, they all had goals for the year, but through the EIC Model™ we have discussed, debated, changed, etc. and now everyone has a common goal that we work toward.
"The increased enthusiasm, of students and staff is evident as you walk through the halls and visit in the clasrooms...
"Two years ago I qualified for (retirement) but elected to continue in my present position. The main reason for not retiring early was mainly due to the fact that I wanted to continue working in an EIC Model™ school."
Earl Gransee, Principal
Belle Plaine Elementary School
Minnesota

"I am a high school science teacher in Southwest Georgia. I have been teaching for 9 years and have felt so incredibly disillusioned by how poorly students achieve in science...to the point that I was considering quitting.
"Last year I came across your research that indicated that using the environment as a framework had the potential to yield considerable interest and achievement among students. Well, I thought I would try it out and the results have been amazing. I am not sure that it improved test scores yet, but it sure did boost my students' interest and my moral...
"Last year was the best year I have ever had. I loved teaching...and I really think the kids loved learning which will also impact their future decision making regarding the environment. I really think that what we were able to accomplish was amazing...regardless of whether it raises test scores...sometimes there are other important things in education.
"I guess I could ramble on and on, but to sum it all up...Thank you!!!"
Jennifer Hand, Science Teacher
Cairo High School
Georgia

The "EIC Model™ has had a dramatic impact on my teaching style. In some cases, the EIC Model™ training I received served as a "blessing" for strategies I was already using. However, the EIC Model™also provided me with the tools to give my students a sense of relevance as we learn together through community investigations.
"EIC Model™ training provides a support network of educators that are willing and eager to share successful strategies. Using the EIC Model™ allows me to connect disciplines through meaningful investigations. Thanks so much for your leadership and help!"
Ruth Pinson, 4th Grade Teacher
Armuchee Elementary School
Georgia

	Take a look at what School Administrators and Teachers are saying about SEER and the EIC Model™ Recent comments by some school administrators, teachers and others who have recently worked with the State Education and Environment Roundtable (SEER). "We are nearing the end of our first year of implementing the EIC Model™ (Using the Environment as an Integrating Context for Learning) and are starting to document positive change as a result of the professional development and technical support that the State Education and Environment Roundtable (SEER) has given the South Carolina State Department of Education (SDE) and our EIC Model™ teams. "School administrators have reported that they see an increased collaboration among teachers and external mentors, improvement in student attendance rates, decrease in teacher discipline referrals, increased parental and community interest, and support of student learning. "EIC Model™ team teachers report that their students like working outdoors to learn about their local community. The students recognize changes in instruction and assessment and appreciate that their teachers are working together as a true team. Teachers and administrators also report that community members are commenting about the wonderful opportunities for students to learn about their community's past and learn to contribute to the future of their community. "In South Carolina, we see the first year of our EIC Model™ program as being very successful. Students, teachers, administrators, parents, and community members are working together to make local environment-based learning lead to academic growth and an increase in students' personal commitments to their local community. Thank you for your commitment to and support of South Carolina schools. We look forward to a continuing partnership between the SDE and SEER." lnez M. Tenenbaum, State Superintendent of Education South Carolina






"I am writing to express my appreciation for the professional development and technical support that the State Education and Environment Roundtable has provided to Concrete Middle School staff, students and community as they implemented the EIC Model™ over the past three years. "Thank you and your staff for your commitment to facilitating the Concrete Middle School community as we developed and implemented learning opportunities that not only increased our students standards-based knowledge and skills but also increased their understanding of and commitment to their communities. Dr. Marie Phillips, Superintendent Concrete School District Washington "The EIC Model™ provided a structure that helped our fourth- and fifth-grade students and teachers collaborate at and across grade levels as they worked to investigate waste and resource conservation issues on Winnetka's campus. "Our teachers found it especially helpful to have the professional development and technical support we received from the State Education and Environment Roundtable (SEER). With their help we were able to learn about the EIC Model™ and use it to design and strengthen Winnetka's standards-based instructional program." María Niní Villaseñor, Principal Winnetka Avenue Elementary School Los Angeles "To summarize the highlights of our EIC Model™, I would place everyone students, staff and administration all working and focused on a common goal as one of our greatest accomplishments. As a staff, they all had goals for the year, but through the EIC Model™ we have discussed, debated, changed, etc. and now everyone has a common goal that we work toward. "The increased enthusiasm, of students and staff is evident as you walk through the halls and visit in the clasrooms... "Two years ago I qualified for (retirement) but elected to continue in my present position. The main reason for not retiring early was mainly due to the fact that I wanted to continue working in an EIC Model™ school." Earl Gransee, Principal Belle Plaine Elementary School Minnesota "I am a high school science teacher in Southwest Georgia. I have been teaching for 9 years and have felt so incredibly disillusioned by how poorly students achieve in science...to the point that I was considering quitting. "Last year I came across your research that indicated that using the environment as a framework had the potential to yield considerable interest and achievement among students. Well, I thought I would try it out and the results have been amazing. I am not sure that it improved test scores yet, but it sure did boost my students' interest and my moral... "Last year was the best year I have ever had. I loved teaching...and I really think the kids loved learning which will also impact their future decision making regarding the environment. I really think that what we were able to accomplish was amazing...regardless of whether it raises test scores...sometimes there are other important things in education. "I guess I could ramble on and on, but to sum it all up...Thank you!!!" Jennifer Hand, Science Teacher Cairo High School Georgia The "EIC Model™ has had a dramatic impact on my teaching style. In some cases, the EIC Model™ training I received served as a "blessing" for strategies I was already using. However, the EIC Model™also provided me with the tools to give my students a sense of relevance as we learn together through community investigations. "EIC Model™ training provides a support network of educators that are willing and eager to share successful strategies. Using the EIC Model™ allows me to connect disciplines through meaningful investigations. Thanks so much for your leadership and help!" Ruth Pinson, 4th Grade Teacher Armuchee Elementary School Georgia Last update 1/6//06 Return to SEER Home Page