Applications for the fifth annual Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy are now being accepted. The premier professional learning program for middle school teachers (grades 5-8) was created to help enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), while increasing teacher understanding about the skills needed for a scientifically literate workforce.
“We are committed to teacher professional development in STEM subjects through building and sustaining educational partnerships in our communities,” said Sandra Evers-Manly, president of the Northrop Grumman Foundation and vice president of global corporate responsibility, Northrop Grumman. “This program is designed to leverage the experiences and expertise within our workforce, elevate teachers’ abilities and encourage the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.”
Administered by the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), this year the Academy will support up to 32 public school district teachers in select communities where Northrop Grumman operates in the U.S.
“Teachers play a vital role in helping students gain the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in a technology-driven workforce,” said David Evans, NSTA executive director. “The Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy gives teachers the opportunity to translate hands-on experience to an effective classroom program, which will enhance student engagement and provide examples of how their learning is linked to future career options.”
Teachers selected for the program—who will be known as Teacher Fellows—will:
- Attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Boston and pre-conference special events, April 1-4, 2020;
- Participate in a summer five-day workshop at a Northrop Grumman facility in Los Angeles, where they will continue to explore teaching strategies and programs for integrating effective and authentic engineering design practices and workforce skills in their classroom;
- Participate in an immersive, 70-hour externship at a local Northrop Grumman facility, where they will be partnered with an engineer/technologist to observe and experience critical workforce skills in action;
- Engage in online professional learning through a comprehensive NSTA membership package which offers a variety of web-based professional learning activities, including a specially designated online learning community;
- Develop classroom applications that integrate an authentic, real-world application linked to the externship experiences; and
- Access resources and develop strategies to share their learning with colleagues so they can build capacity within their schools and districts.
Educators can apply to become a Teacher Fellow if they are:
- Current middle school (grades 5-8) physical science, engineering, and technology classroom teachers located in select public school districts where Northrop Grumman operates;
- Have a minimum of two years of middle school teaching experience; and
- Have a strong desire to increase understanding about the skills needed for a scientifically literate workforce.
For more information about the Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy or to learn how to apply, visit the Academy website. Applications must be submitted no later than November 18, 2019.
About the Northrop Grumman Foundation
Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation are dedicated to expanding and enhancing sustainable science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education opportunities for students globally. With an emphasis on middle school and university level students, our engineering and technology-based partnerships are designed to excite, engage and educate students as they defend cyber networks, engineer autonomous vehicles, explore space and more. In addition, we provide workforce-relevant professional development to middle school educators to advance their competence in teaching STEM subjects, in turn, inspiring students to explore STEM careers and increasing their STEM skills proficiency. In 2018, we contributed nearly 20 million dollars towards these initiatives.
About the National Science Teaching Association
The Arlington, Virginia-based National Science Teaching Association is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning, preschool through college. NSTA’s membership includes approximately 50,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business representatives, and others involved in science education.
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