2015-2016 Northrop Grumman Foundation Teacher Fellows Announced

December 9, 2015 | By Business Wire News

ARLINGTON, Va.

The Northrop Grumman Foundation and the National Science Teachers Association today announced the selection of the 2015-2016 Teacher Fellows in the Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy. Selected from targeted areas across the country, the 25 middle school teachers (grades 5-8) will participate in a year-long immersion in a host of science-, technology-, and engineering-related activities and professional learning opportunities.

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“We welcome our first class of distinguished educators selected to participate in the Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy,” said Sandra Evers-Manly, Northrop Grumman vice president, Global Corporate Responsibility and president of the Northrop Grumman Foundation. “They play a critical role in the development of young minds and it is our goal that this program will give them additional tools and resources to be even more impactful in their classrooms.”

“Each of the Teacher Fellows are determined individuals who are committed to further developing their skills as teachers and are dedicated to making science, technology, and engineering more relevant to their students,” said NSTA Executive Director Dr. David Evans. “Through participation in the Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy, these educators will have a unique opportunity to connect their curriculum to real-world applications, which will enrich science, technology, engineering, and math teaching and learning for their students and help to ignite interest and inspire more careers in STEM.”

The Teacher Fellows were selected on the basis of several criteria, including displaying a strong desire to advance STEM education and apply real-world applications in the classroom. During their fellowship, recipients will:

Participate in a five-day workshop at a Northrop Grumman facility during the summer of 2016, where they will discuss teaching strategies for integrating effective and authentic engineering design practices in their classroom;
Attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Nashville, March 31-April 3, where they will engage in the latest instructional practices related to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS);
Participate in a two-week summer externship at a Northrop Grumman facility, where they will be paired with an engineer/technologist to observe daily activities and learn the foundational and industry-specific skills required for success in the field; and
Develop a lesson plan or unit linked to the thematic area of their externship experience that they will implement as part of their classroom curriculum the following school year.

The Teacher Fellows will also receive a comprehensive NSTA membership package and an opportunity to participate in a variety of web-based professional learning activities, including a specially designated online learning community.

Launched earlier this fall, the Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy was created to help enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence in science, technology, and engineering, while increasing teacher understanding about the skills needed for a scientifically literate workforce.

For a list of the 2015-2016 Teacher Fellows or to learn more about the Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy, visit http://www.nsta.org/northropgrumman/.

About Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation

Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation are committed to expanding and enhancing the pipeline of diverse, talented STEM students globally. They provide funding to sustainable STEM programs that span from preschool to high school and through collegiate levels, with a major emphasis on middle school students and teachers. In 2015, the Northrop Grumman Foundation continued outreach efforts by contributing $10.2 million to diverse STEM-related groups such as the Air Force Association (CyberPatriot), Conservation International (ECO Classroom), the REC Foundation (VEX Robotics), NSTA and the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering.

About NSTA

The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) 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.