What is E.S.P.R.I.T.?

(Text of November, 1996)
Oneonta Mentor Network Initiative & Education Listservs

ESPRIT (The Earth Science Program/Resource Innovation Team) was established at the initiative of Susan Agruso, Associate in the Science Bureau of the New York State Education Department, in July of 1993. Our general purpose is to continue syllabus development and related activities that the State Education Department could no longer coordinate.

At the 1993 Oneonta workshop, we elected six members of the ESPRIT executive committee. They are Bob Allers (New Hartford), Cindy Becker (Stillwater), Barbara Daniel (Rochester), Ed Denecke (New York City), Tom McGuire (Briarcliff) and Brian Vorwald (Stony Brook).

Brian Vorwald is our chairperson.
Dr. James Ebert of the Department of Earth Sciences at Oneonta College (SUNY) serves Ex Officio.

Standing Committees

Examination Committee ------- Bill Tucci, Ed Denecke & Brian Vorwald
Mentors' Handbook --- Cindy Becker & Representatives of OPEN (Physics)
Reference Tables ------ Bonnie VanScoter & Dave Mills
Syllabus Committee ------- Tom McGuire & Robin Brennan
Mentor Support ------- Barbara Daniel & Denise Aubrey
Workshops ------- Brian Vorwald & Cindy Becker

Purposes of ESPRIT :

1) To identify, develop, and disseminate curriculum materials that use problem solving
in Earth science, in accordance with our Title II, Oneonta grant.

2) To organize workshops for our local centers that model and disseminate the curriculum
objectives of ESPRIT and the State Education Department.

3 To coordinate our initiatives with the State Education Department, and other professional
organizations, at the local, state and national levels.

4) To produce instruments of evaluation, such as the 1994 ESPRIT exam.

We have no by-laws. Decisions will be made by the whole membership whenever possible. Necessary executive decisions will be made by the majority of the executive committee. We will institute operations to fill our needs as we perceive them. Our "constitution" is unwritten, pragmatic and evolutionary. We have no budget or financial resources outside of the coverage of the Oneonta grant and the working contributions of members. When the time comes that we loose our SUNY grant, we may consider future affiliation with another organization, such as STANYS, NSTA or NAGT, and to admit (non«mentor) members for a modest annual fee. We welcome the services and/or suggestions from anyone interested in the development of Earth Science Education in New York. We may be contacted through any local mentor, the Department of Earth Sciences at Oneonta College, or the State Education Department.

E-Mail to ESPRIT Chairperson Brian Vorwald

Mail to web page administrator Thomas McGuire