ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, a year-long program focused on encouraging and supporting early-career science educators, announced 200 middle and secondary science teachers from across the country who will take part as Fellows in the 2013-2014 Academy. Selected from more than a thousand applications nationwide, the Fellows will participate in a host of science-related activities and professional learning opportunities.
Four leading U.S.-based organizations, committed to strengthening the quality of science education in the U.S., are supporting the 200 new science teachers selected as Fellows in the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy. The Dow Chemical Company, the primary sponsor of the program, will fund the participation of 159 science teachers as Dow-NSTA Fellows. Lockheed Martin will sponsor 27 teachers as Lockheed Martin-NSTA Fellows. The American Honda Foundation will support seven science teachers as Honda-NSTA Fellows and the Bayer USA Foundation will sponsor seven science teachers from New Jersey as Bayer-NSTA Fellows.
“The National Science Teachers Association congratulates the new science teachers who will join the Academy this year,” said Dr. David Evans, executive director, NSTA. “The Academy Fellows are making a long-term commitment to give their very best to their students – and to society, as they inspire the scientists and citizens of tomorrow.”
Representing 21 states and the District of Columbia, the 2013-2014 Fellows were selected on the basis of several criteria, including showing evidence of a solid science background and displaying a strong interest in growing as a professional science educator. Each Fellow will receive a comprehensive NSTA membership package, online mentoring with trained mentors who teach in the same discipline, and the opportunity to participate in a variety of web-based professional development activities, including web seminars. In addition, each Fellow will receive financial support to attend and participate in NSTA’s 2014 National Conference on Science Education in Boston.
“New science teachers need and deserve our support as they go about the important work of bringing science to life in our schools,” said Dow’s Rob Vallentine, global director, STEM Education. “Dow believes teachers are the multiplier effect on our young people, serving as an important conduit between the love of science and the connection to a STEM career. We are excited to support the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy and proud to be associated with this impressive group of educators.”
“Success in building the next generation of STEM workers depends on collaboration among educators, industry, families and policy makers,” said Emily Simone, director of community relations, Lockheed Martin. “We are committed to working with the NSTA and the Lockheed Martin-NSTA Fellows to develop programs that educate and inspire tomorrow’s scientists, engineers and mathematicians.”
“The American Honda Foundation is proud to continue its support of NSTA’s New Science Teacher Academy,” said Alexandra Warnier, manager, American Honda Foundation. “We believe that investing in teachers through programs like these, focused on quality science teaching, ensures that our children become more competitive to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”
“We value our longtime partnership with NSTA and particularly this important initiative designed to attract and retain the best and brightest science teachers. For nearly two decades Bayer has been helping to improve U.S. STEM education through our companywide Making Science Make Sense initiative. We’ve learned that it is essential to give our teachers the ongoing, quality professional development they need if we expect students to achieve and succeed in scientific and technical fields,” said Sarah Toulouse, Bayer U.S. Donations Officer and Executive Director, Bayer USA Foundation.
Launched during the spring of 2007, the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, co-founded with a grant from the Amgen Foundation, was designed to help promote quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence, and improve teacher content knowledge. Since its inception the Academy has provided high-quality professional learning opportunities to nearly 1000 science teachers nationwide.
For a list of the 2013-2014 Fellows or to learn more about the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, visit www.nsta.org/academy.
About NSTA
The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership includes approximately 55,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2012, Dow had annual sales of approximately $57 billion and employed approximately 54,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 116,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products, and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2012 were $47.2 billion.
About the American Honda Foundation
Established in 1984, the American Honda Foundation (AHF) makes grants to non-profit organizations that benefit the people of the United States in the areas of youth and scientific education, with a specific focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in addition to the environment. AHF engages in grantmaking that reflects the basic tenets, beliefs and philosophies of Honda companies, which are characterized by the following qualities: imaginative, creative, youthful, forward-thinking, scientific, humanistic and innovative. Since its inception, more than $31 million has been awarded to organizations serving approximately 115 million people in every state in the U.S. For more information please visit http://www.foundation.honda.com.
About Bayer Corporation Bayer, USA Foundation and Making Science Make Sense®
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. As an inventor company, it sets trends in research-intensive areas. Bayer’s products and services are designed to benefit people and improve the quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and acts as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. In fiscal 2012, the Group employed 110,500 people and had sales of €39.8 billion. In North America, Bayer had 2012 net sales of €9,576 million ($12,257 million) and employed 15,300 at year-end. For more information, go to www.bayerus.com.
The Bayer USA Foundation is an endowed 501(c)(3) entity with a programmatic focus on education and workforce development, and environment and sustainability. The Foundation supports organizations that enhance quality of life, connect diverse groups, ensure preparedness for tomorrow’s leaders, and improve communities in which Bayer employees live and work. The Bayer USA Foundation is one of three Bayer foundations worldwide, including the Bayer Science & Education Foundation and the Bayer Cares Foundation. To learn more, go to www.bayerus.com/foundation.
Making Science Make Sense® (MSMS) is Bayer’s company-wide initiative that advances science literacy through hands-on, inquiry-based science education, employee volunteerism and a public education campaign. Currently, 12 Bayer sites around the U.S. operate local MSMS programs, which together represent a national volunteer corps of more than 1,000 employees. For more information, go to www.bayerus.com/msms.
