Expanded Algebra Academy Graduates 100 Students

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The Mike Hauser Algebra Academy, a program of the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, wrapped up its immersive summer algebra program with a graduation ceremony at Sonoma State University’s Commencement Lawn on Friday, June 26th. Students capped off their Algebra Academy experience with morning tours of the university as well as hearing from a panel of current college students including Algebra Academy Alumni.

The 2015 Academy expanded enrollment to include English Language Learner (ELL) students from Sebastopol and Rohnert Park, building on the 2014 inclusion of Healdsburg students; the Algebra Academy has served Santa Rosa area students since 2008.

The geographic expansion of this year’s program also required an increase in the number of businesses to host the program. Twenty-eight area businesses hosted Algebra Academy students this year compared to 15 for the 2014 program. (view the list of host businesses and program sponsors)

“The ultimate goal is to reach 300 students, or 25% of Sonoma County’s ELL eighth graders, each summer,” said Jonathan Coe, President/CEO of the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce. “If we can do that, then we have a real chance at moving the needle and improving graduation rates.”

The Mike Hauser Algebra Academy aims to strengthen the algebra skills of English Language Learner (ELL) students entering the ninth grade by engaging them in interactive, hands-on learning guided by local teachers, engineers, and technical experts. The three week program is held at area businesses where students are able to learn algebra standards and their application to high-tech real-world situations, interview engineers and technical experts, and participate in activities related to each host business.

“The Mike Hauser Algebra Academy is a great example of what collaboration between local businesses and education can do,” said Fred Van Milligen, Vice President of Research and Development at JDSU and Chair of the Santa Rosa Chamber’s Workforce Development division. “This year having students from Rohnert Park and Sebastopol participating furthers the reach of the programs’ two clear goals: 1) support ELL students in graduating from high school, and 2) encourage them to consider a path that leads through college to a career in technology. It is a program that JDSU is very proud to support and that I have felt honored to be part of from its inception.”

Launched in 2008, the Algebra Academy was the vision of the late Mike Hauser, former CEO of the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce. He understood the importance of ensuring an educated and trained workforce for the businesses in Santa Rosa and realized that, if we fail to increase the graduation rates of students for whom English is a second language, we will lose their talents and any real hope of maintaining and growing our workforce.

Since one of the key precursors for high school graduation is mastery of algebra, he reasoned that giving students for whom English is a second language a head start with a summer program that combined algebra with real world experience in local companies would help us improve that graduation rate.

Programs such as the Mike Hauser Algebra Academy exemplify the Chamber’s ongoing commitment to workforce development and its importance for our member businesses. Our business community’s future success is dependent on the workers’ skills, and the Algebra Academy is one means for the Chamber to directly and dramatically improve the skills of our future workforce.

Thank you to the sponsors, supporters and partners of the 2015 Mike Hauser Algebra Academy

SPONSORED BY:

John Jordan Foundation

WITH SUPPORT FROM:

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: