Dow and Smithsonian Science Education Center Partner to Develop High Quality Teachers

MIDLAND, Mich.

The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) and the Smithsonian Science Education Center announced today they will collaborate on The Dow Smithsonian Teacher Scholar Program. The program is designed to enhance teachers’ skills related to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education by providing tools, resources and new learning experiences in fields such as earth history, biodiversity or energy.

The 6-day program will host 32 teachers in Washington, D.C. and is part of the Smithsonian Science Education Academies for Teachers (SSEATs). After the experience, participants will take their excitement and new skills back to the classroom, while receiving continued support from local peer participants and the Dow STEM Ambassador program. STEM Ambassadors support teachers and inspire students by providing real life examples to make challenging concepts easier to understand, while incorporating a strong focus on sharing exciting opportunities available through pursuing STEM careers.

Each teacher will participate in one of three programs focused on specific STEM related themes:

• Biodiversity, June 14-19
• Energy’s Innovations and Implications, July 12-17
• Earth’s History and Global Change, July 26-31

“Teachers are the key to driving student interest in STEM subjects, and ultimately in STEM careers,” said Rob Vallentine, director of corporate citizenship at Dow. “Dow is proud to collaborate with the Smithsonian Science Education Center to provide teachers in our communities with an inspirational experience and educational resources to help support their commitment to our students, and in turn drive creation of the next generation of the STEM workforce.”

“The Smithsonian Science Education Center is thrilled to continue our partnership with Dow to bring teachers to the nation’s capital for a week of professional development. This experience affords teachers the opportunity to learn directly from scientists, and go behind the scenes at Smithsonian Museums and Research Centers,” said Amy D’Amico, director of professional services at the Smithsonian Science Education Center. “We appreciate Dow’s continued commitment to teachers in their communities, and the investment Dow makes to provide students with a robust education so that all students have the opportunity for a future in a STEM field.”

Through its STEMtheGAP™ initiatives, Dow’s STEM mission is to build the workforce of tomorrow by supporting teachers, motivating student achievement, developing careers, and collaborating with communities to transform STEM education into a driver for innovation, manufacturing, and economic prosperity. In support of this mission, Dow’s partnership with Smithsonian will provide new resources and support to teachers in six strategic Dow communities:

California

• Jennifer Foster, Rancho Medanos Junior High, Pittsburg, Calif.
• Julie Hubbard, Liberty High School, Brentwood, Calif.
• Michele Miller, Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Pleasant Hill, Calif.
• Lynda Ramos, Antioch Unified School District, Antioch, Calif.

Indiana

• Paul Legge, MSD of Lawrence Township, Indianapolis, Ind.

Louisiana

• Janell Albarez, West Baton Rouge, Brusly, La.
• Kacy Allensworth, St. Joseph’s Academy, Baton Rouge, La.
• Kimi Brignac, Brusley Middle School, West Baton Rouge Parish, Brusly, La.
• Jessica Fletcher, Lakewood Elementary, St. Charles Parish, Luling, La.
• Daniel Martin, Destrehan High School, St. Charles Parish, Destrehan, La.
• Brad Ohmer, Albert Cammon Middle School, St. Charles Parish, St. Rose, La.
• Brian Rowan, Plaquemine High School, Plaquemine, La.

Michigan

• Mary Jo Griffin, Adams Elementary, Midland Public Schools, Midland, Mich.
• Isabella Lopez, Freeland School District, Freeland, Mich.
• Andrea Loshaw, Saginaw Intermediate School District, St. Charles, Mich.
• Eric Marshall, Nouvel Catholic Central High School, Saginaw, Mich.
• Jennifer Snider, Birch Run Area Schools – Marshall Greene Middle School, Birch Run, Mich.
• Deb Yats, Nouvel Catholic Central High School, Saginaw, Mich.

Pennsylvania

• Isobel Dewey, Simon Gratz Mastery Charter High School, Philadelphia, Pa.
• Theresa Lewis-King, School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.

Texas

• Melissa Butterfield, Angleton ISD, Angleton, Texas
• Chris Gibson, SF Austin Elementary, Brazosport ISD, Jones Creek, Texas
• Catherine Goff, AP Beutel, Brazosport ISD, Lake Jackson, Texas
• Devin Hewer, Howell Middle School, Victoria ISD, Victoria, Texas
• Kristal LaBerge, Clute Intermediate School, Brazosport ISD, Clute, Texas
• Patricia Lausch, Danbury ISD, Danbury, Texas
• Danielle McDonald, Brazosport ISD, Velasco Elementary, Freeport, Texas
• Traci Perry, Brazosport ISD, Clute, Texas
• Kelly Rathbun, OM Roberts Elementary, Brazosport ISD, Lake Jackson, Texas
• Kathy Williams, Texas City ISD, Texas City, Texas

More information about Dow’s commitment to promoting STEM education can be found at www.dow.com/company/citizenship/stem.htm.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, 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 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2014, Dow had annual sales of more than $58 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 product families are manufactured at 201 sites in 35 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 the Smithsonian Science Education Center

The mission of the Smithsonian Science Education Center (formerly the National Science Resources Center) is to improve K-12 teaching and learning of science for all students in the United States and throughout the world. The center is nationally and internationally recognized for the quality of its programs and its impact on K-12 science education.

^®TM Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150617005711/en/

For further information contact:
The Dow Chemical Company
Sara Steele, +1-202-429-3428
smsteele@dow.com
or
Smithsonian Science Education Center
Ashley Deese
deesea@si.edu