Approve the Agreement for Technical Services for Dr. Mariann Schmudde to Perform the Duties Associated with the Year 1 Evaluation of the Science and Mathematics Accelerated Readiness for Teaching (SMART) Project (Information and Technology Division)

The Science and Mathematics Accelerated Readiness for Teaching (SMART) project is designed to provide high-quality, comprehensive support to individuals pursuing full teacher certification in the high-needs areas of mathematics and science. SMART partners with the Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance (TBWA) to provide recruitment and pre-selection induction. SMART is designed to recruit and attract only career changers and recent college graduates who have experience or a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and are willing to teach in a high-needs school for a minimum of three years. Project goals include recruiting and placing project participants as science and mathematics teachers in high-needs schools, increasing the efficacy of the Alternative Certification Program (ACT) to support an accelerated path to certification/licensure for project participants, and retaining highly qualified participants as science and mathematics teachers.

Dr. Mariann Schmudde has been asked to evaluate the success of Year 1 of the SMART project. Dr. Schmudde has a Ph.D. and Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. Since 2002, she has been an instructor at Stetson University in the Educational Leadership Program and has experience as an evaluator for public school districts in Florida and Texas. She has worked on other program evaluations for the Hillsborough County Public Schools.

Dr. Schmudde's duties as an evaluator will include, but not be limited to the following: 1) refining and confirming the evaluation plan; 2) drafting and piloting the survey instruments and interview protocols; 3) reviewing and revising the course evaluation instrument; 4) collecting data on project benchmarks; 5) reviewing data and providing a report on early indicators of project progress. Results of the Year 1 evaluation will be disseminated in a comprehensive report due by a designated date provided by the grantor and distributed to the Project Manager, the Department of Assessment and Accountability, and District personnel.

* Challenge and support all students with an appropriate curriculum, * Recruit, develop, and retain a highly effective, diverse workforce

Of the $450,000 awarded by this grant, $20,000 has been designated for the required evaluation.

A final, comprehensive report will be distributed to the Project Manager, Department of Assessment and Accountability, and district personnel.