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KALAMAZOO, Mich.—A new speaker series focusing on topics in K-12 education will launch Thursday, Nov. 13, on the campus of É«É«À² Michigan University with a presentation by Michigan's 2014 Teacher of the Year Gary Abud on teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics--or STEM.

Abud, instructional coach and teacher at Grosse Pointe Public Schools, will address how math and science centers across the state are coming together to build the capacity for better STEM education.

The event is free and open to the public and begins with refreshments at 4 p.m. in Room 1730 of Sangren Hall, with the lecture starting at 4:30 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (269) 387-8700 or at . Free parking is available in Lot 41 behind Sangren Hall.

The Education Forum

The Education Forum, with the goal of engaging the regional community in dialogue on topics, trends and research in K-12 education, is sponsored by Educational Community Credit Union, and will include four speakers annually.

In the forum's first event, Abud will address how the Michigan Modeling Instruction Program is implementing a multiyear statewide STEM training program for nearly 400 physical science teachers. Through partnerships with the Michigan Department of Education and the National Science Foundation, this program is using research-based teaching methods to impact STEM education in schools around Michigan. This talk will describe the program, first-year outcomes, and plans for going forward.

Gary Abud

In addition to his duties working with nearly 600 K-12 educators for GPPS, Abud is a state coordinator for the Michigan Modeling Instruction STEM Program. He has led workshops on instruction and technology for thousands of educators since 2010. He has presented at numerous conferences, universities and educational events, including the Governor’s Education Summit, and has been honored for his achievements by the Department of Education and the White House.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.