History of the USC CCMB Site
 

    In 1990, the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology (CCMB), a research laboratory of the School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California, became a site  for the California Science Project (CSP), a sub-division of the California Subject Matter Projects . In 1991, the Center to Advance Pre-College Science Education (CAPSE) was funded by the National Science Foundation and also based at CCMB. The mission of CAPSE was to transform pre-college science education for children in the South Central and Eastside areas of Los Angeles with a large majority of minority and historically under-served populations. The goal was to improve science education through teacher training, thereby increasing the possibility of underrepresented minorities entering the scientific pipeline and pursuing careers in science.  The USC-CSP formed a strong partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) through the urban systemic initiative in LAUSD, the Los Angeles Systemic Initiative (LA-SI).   Lois Slavkin was the Director and Patricia Thompson the Project Associate.

1995 - Charles Shuler, DMD., Ph.D. became the new director of CCMB and Principal Investigator for the CSP grant. The grant, written by Carol Valenta at the California Museum of Science and Industry was loosely structured to allow participants to explore inquiry learning on a deep level and provided opportunities for teachers to begin to take a leadership role. Participation was opened to Los Angeles County, and limited to approximately 25 members. Ultimately a group of twenty teachers was formed. In this group, called the CSP Leadership Cohort, was a mix of K-12 educators with varying years of experience, and teaching expertise. Under then director, Toni Hansen,  an intensive summer Inquiry Institute was implemented and featured nationally recognized leadership and inquiry experts such as Rebecca Dyasi, Barry Van Deman, Bernie Zubrowski, and Lynn Rankin.  In addition, members of the Leadership Cohort were charged with organizing and implementing four group leadership events throughout the year. They responded with a series of well attended workshops on open inquiry, multiple intelligence's and technology education.  At the end of this year, Ms. Hanson joined the Los Angeles Educational Partnership (LAEP).

1996  The partnership was expanded to include the Los Angeles USI (LA-SI), and the management structure of the USC CSP site became a true collaboration. Under the leadership of director, Carol Takemoto, the LA-SI has set up the infrastructure to coordinate and support science reform efforts in the District. There was a shared view that LAUSD Clusters would be more effective with a coordinated science focus that would facilitate K-12 articulation, and that LA-SI would financially support a coordinated cluster effort as a pilot project for a possible District model. Dr. Shuler and Ms. Thompson also saw that this would be an opportunity to provide a unique leadership experience for the CSP Leadership Cohort. Planning and implementing such an effort would allow the Cohort to utilize their strategic planning, teamwork and leadership skills with the added benefit of facilitating a K-12 articulation effort. The Venice Westchester Cluster was jointly chosen because of the strong cluster leadership under Carol Dodd, the support of Linda Wootan, Cluster Advisor and its diverse student body.  The Summer Institute "DNA on Trial" gave the Leadership Cohort an intensive two week of content in the laboratory at CCMB and a special "Leadershp Toolbox" facilitated by Diana Ho, a business consultant gave them additional leadership skills.

1997 In April of 1997, a team of approximately 90 teachers from the Venice/Westchester Cluster, along with members of the LA-SI and the CSP Leadership Cohort met at the Steven Breuer Conference Center to conceptualize and plan what is now called "The Orchid Project". A Standards Day was held in May of this year to familiarize teachers with the National Standards and discuss ways in which they could be implemented.  In July, 1997, the Cohorts leadership skills were beginning to blossom, and it selected one of its own, Christopher Mihm, to the position of USC-CSP Project Director. This was a timely decision and proved valuable to the Orchid Project.  It was agreed that he would be housed at the LA-SI Westside Math Science and Technology Center in the heart of Venice/Westchester.  Carol Takemoto made available office space, instructional materials and meeting rooms to nurture the project.  She provided CSP access to existing LA-SI programs like Eisenhower workshops and paid teacher networks as well as providing $250,000 worth of funding for sub time, block grants and instructional materials for Venice/Westchester teachers.  All Cluster schools were encouraged to become LA-SI schools and to participate in the Orchid Project.  The two-week Summer Institute provided content through expert resources, introduced Problem-Based Learning, instructional materials to suport implementation and provided teachers with strategies to tie-in art and literacy and grantwriting skills.

1998 Professional development continued throughout the year with an "Orchid Reunion", Cluster Days scheduled by Venice/Westchester, GLATSA presentation, Mini Institute and an innovative content-rich Summer Institute in 1998, with 81 participants from Venice/Westchester divided into eight groups pursuing content through PBL and facilitated by the USC CSP Leadership Cohort.  Plans for the coming year include development of the approximately 20 Venice/Westchester teachers already identified as a Leadership Cohort, as well as the continued capacity building and strengthening of the infrastructure through professional development workshops aimed at content-building, instructional materials, facilitation techniques, grant writing, teacher-as-researcher.

1999  The Orchid Project, currently in it's third year was planned, developed and facilitated for the first time by the  the "Westside Leadership Cohort" self-selected teacher leaders from the Venice/Westchester Cluster.  Participants were divided into six groups to pursue investigations tied to grade level themes in the California State Standards.  The Summer Institute for the Orchid Project  was held August 16 - August 20, 1999 and investigations included:  Seasons, Solar Energy, Weathers Effect on Marine Mammals, Chemistry Through Chocolate, and Plant Genetics.

    The year got off to a great start with the Octopus Project Strategic Planning session in Malibu.  Facilitated by Diana Ho, approximately two teachers from each school in the Jordan/Locke Cluster of LAUSD defined their understanding of a marine science cluster project and generated a strategic plan to implement their ideas in their cluster.  The Strategic Planning Session was followed by an Ocean Resources Day and PBL Investigations Workshop.  These activities were identified by participants and the USC-CSP Leadership Cohort as components that would be a valuable lead-in to the one-week Summer Institute held August 23 - August 27, 1999.