June 20, 2006 > Logan receives grant for biotech academy

A James Logan High School biology teacher has been awarded a $290,000 grant from the California Department of Education to develop a biotechnology academy at the school.

Sue Hinojoza, who secured the grant in partnership with Teresa Golebiewska, senior project manager/grants for the New Haven Unified School District, will use the money to establish a Genetic Engineering and Molecular Sciences (GEMS) Academy. Students will perform intensive laboratory work, such as transferring DNA from one organism into another, cloning plants and bacteria, and using their own DNA to trace the migration pathway of their ancestors as far back as 50,000 years.

Hinojoza's grant includes $40,000 for planning in the 2006-2007 school year, during which she will teach a biotechnology class being offered for the first time. The remaining $250,000 will be used to implement the full GEMS program over three years, starting in 2007-2008.

In partnership with Ohlone College's outreach program, Learning Alliance for Bioscience (LAB), Hinojoza is growing Logan's biotech offerings. Through LAB, Logan students will be able to earn both high school and college credit.