Highly skilled and dedicated teachers, who are life-long learners, led Wayne School to its recent status as a Golden Apple Award winner. Students' performances on the 2000 science and mathematics MEAP tests were the result of our teachers' experiences in the Detroit Urban Systemic Initiative. DUSI was a five-year professional development grant opportunity that gave our teachers and administrators exposure to the very latest best practices in science, mathematics, general teaching, and administration, particularly, constructivist methods.

Applying the constructive method meant shifting our resources and energies to hands-on learning for children. We have an outdoor habitat that was managed by our students and teachers (Nancy Raffoul and Susan Morandy), in partnership with the Greening of Detroit organization. Students continue to have the opportunity to experience science and mathematics "up close up and personal" with mathematics and science specialists, Kathleen Barker, Nicole Stewart, and Shawn Wightman.

This year, we have partnered with the Michigan State University's Great Lakes Extension program. Students will take a "cruise" on the Clinton River where they will observe and work with aquatic life and the ecosystem--constructivist learning at its best.

Our past Wayne DUSI teams included teachers from all disciplines because constructivist teaching includes strategies that are applicable anywhere deep learning is essential. Wayne's annual science fairs, family mathematics-science-technology nights and various cognitive initiatives are developed and supported by Wayne's entire staff.

We owe much to the Detroit Urban Systemic Initiative, the science and mathematics departments and to their supervisors, especially the late Dr. Linda Kolnowski. To the funders of the project, we would like to say, "It was money well spent--we are proof that it worked!"