About us

Project CYPRESS is a content-oriented professional development program designed to bridge the gap between scientists and teachers of grades 5-12. The stimulating five-week program will target science and math teachers from parishes served by Louisiana Department of Education's Service Centers of Regions I, II, and III. The program consists of classroom sessions,

field trips, site visits,and follow-up workshops. The classroom sessions of the program are taught at the Teacher Education Center on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University.

The Project CYPRESS staff is composed of SLU scientists and science educators. Project CYPRESS will use the domain of ecology in general and wetlands ecology in particular to integrate the physical, earth, and life sciences. Teachers will learn to design, conduct, analyze, and evaluate scientific experiments. Project CYPRESS participants are introduced to pedagogy from several experienced teachers and college professors. All content will be presented modeling reform methods and evaluations will incorporate alternative assessments. Multimedia technologies training, including

SLU's Teacher Education Center

Biology Internet Lab

the Internet, will allow teachers to bring nature into the classroom, share and collect data, and give meaning to complex concepts. Multimedia technologies can enhance students' interest in learning. The final section of the course will focus on the science of wetlands restoration in Louisiana. Some of the topics discussed are wetlands values, restoration

strategies, and the politics involved The participants are exposed to the Executive Summary of the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPRRA) and its impact on the fate of Louisiana's Wetlands. Our vision is to have participants return to their schools and implement fun scientific experiments in their classrooms.

Wetlands Restoration

Once these teachers have implemented their standards-based teaching, the students will:

become better problem solvers and critical thinkers;
become aware of how science is applied to the real world;
interact with other students in a setting that promotes teamwork;
use technology effectively and value life long learning.

If you have any questions about Project Cypress, you can e-mail the Site Coordinator,
Ernie Simoneaux at esimoneaux@selu.edu .

"Project CYPRESS is more than a summer workshop. It is an absorbing, hands-on approach to Louisiana wetlands education. The program will encourage you to develop student initiated experimentation and provide you with the tools and information to direct and assess the students' work. Project CYPRESS is a unique opportunity to change your approach to science in your classroom."

Georgia Clesi
East St. John High School

"Project CYPRESS is a fun way to explore the wetlands. It is a five week course filled with experiments, field trips, and discussions. The staff truly love their work. Their enthusiasm and excitement added to an extremely positive classroom climate. The people I worked with day in and day out became family to me. I am looking forward to seeing them again on our follow-up visits."

Lorna Folse
Ben Franklin Elementary

"After becoming a part of Project CYPRESS, I'm more motivated and eager to teach my students about Louisiana wetlands. This has been a fun-filled experience that I shall never forget. Hands-on / mind-on activities, content knowledge, experimental design, and [interpreting] data are all components in which you would become [familiar]. Every field trip is designed where you can enhance your teaching style and technique."

Monica Jackson
St. Helena Central Middle School

"Project CYPRESS was a great experience. I learned to love science as well as love teaching science. This love that I acquired will flow into my classroom for all of my students to benefit. I will be pushing them and making them think critically. And I know if I can do it, they can too!"

Kate Monistere
Trafton Academy

"Project CYPRESS is an experience into wetlands ecology. I really mean 'into' the swamp, the lake, the marsh, and the varied species that inhabit these ecological systems. Walk into Project CYPRESS and be prepared to leave wet, dirty, and thirsty for further discovery into what makes wetland ecology tick. Project CYPRESS truly makes the ecology of South Louisiana your infinite classroom."

Leonard Helmstetter
Enon Elementary School

"Participating in Project CYPRESS is opening a door to a kaleidoscope of mesmerizing opportunities in science. You travel a pathway learning to incorporate math and science in your classroom in fun, hands-on ways.... You learn about the importance of the wetlands and how to maintain them by actually visiting several sites by canoe or boat. It is an experience that any science or math teacher on any level would enjoy and possibly change their style of teaching forever."

Luora Ficklin
Albany Middle School

"Project CYPRESS is an excellent experience. It has it all; fun, excitement, challenge, and time to reflect. Your brain will be tired at the end of your summer but your self esteem will be high and your confidence will soar."

Doris Gerhart
Garyville / Mt. Airy Science and Math Magnet

"Project CYPRESS is the best graduate course I've ever been involved with. Project CYPRESS gives you innovative ways to excite your students and get them to learn things through discovery. The people you're involved with are professional and classy in every way. Project CYPRESS affords you the opportunity to interact with other teachers, learn from them, gripe to them, and have a ... good time doing it."

Charles Ackerman
Franklinton High School