MASSENA -- Two teachers from the Massena Central School District will attend a week-long workshop in Colorado to give them ideas on how to involve their students in studying environmental issues.

With sponsorship from The Alcoa Foundation, Melisa Denney from Nightengale Elementary School and Shelley Carroll from Jefferson Elementary School will attend Key Issues Institute, a national teacher professional development program held each summer.

Teachers will learn new techniques around conducting environmental experiments. They will explore an environmental issue in Colorado as an example of how they can involve their students locally through classroom, lab, field activities, and simulations.

Teachers are given an opportunity to develop new professional networks, share best practices, and begin thinking through the environmental investigation they will implement with their students. Teachers will receive curriculum materials, lab equipment, and online support from staff and other educators.

Alcoa Foundation has sponsored teachers from the Massena area attending the institute in 2008, 2006, 1998 and 1997.