Academy Embarks on Second Year of Providing Professional Development and Mentoring Support to Early-Career Science Teachers
Arlington, Va., August 27, 2008—The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning, today announced the expansion of the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, cofounded by the Amgen Foundation. Three leading organizations, committed to strengthening the quality of science education in the U.S., will be supporting an additional 35 new science teachers as fellows this year. Agilent Technologies Foundation, Astellas Pharma US, Inc. (“Astellas”) and Bayer Corporation join the Amgen Foundation in providing funding for professional development resources for 185 new middle and secondary school science educators from across the country, who will take part as fellows in the 2008–2009 Academy.
“NSTA and the Amgen Foundation are thrilled to be partnering with Agilent Technologies Foundation, Astellas and Bayer Corporation to provide early-career science teachers with the resources, support and confidence they need to be successful and remain committed to the classroom,” said Page Keeley, president, NSTA.
Launched during the spring of 2007, the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy is a year-long professional development program established to help reduce the high attrition rate among science teachers new to the teaching profession. Intended for science educators entering their second or third year of teaching, the Academy is designed to help promote quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence and improve teacher content knowledge.
For this academic year, Agilent Technologies Foundation and Bayer Corporation will each fund the participation of 10 science teachers as Agilent Foundation-NSTA Fellows and Bayer-NSTA Fellows, respectively. Astellas will support 15 science teachers from the Chicago area as Astellas-NSTA Fellows. The remaining 150 science teachers will be supported by the Amgen Foundation and named Amgen-NSTA Fellows.
“Astellas recognizes the important role science teachers play in igniting an interest and, hopefully, a lifelong passion for science among their students. We're honored to be joining other leaders within the science industry to support the NSTA New Science Teachers Academy and help new science educators achieve their goals of furthering science education in the classroom,” said Maribeth Landwehr, director of corporate communications, Astellas.
“Bayer has long been committed to strengthening science education through our national award-winning Making Science Make Sense® initiative,” said Bridget McCourt, director of Making Science Make Sense. “We are delighted to partner with NSTA on this important initiative that helps gives today’s science teachers the tools they need for exemplary science instruction and reaffirms Bayer’s support of science education in our site communities throughout the country.”
“The Agilent Technologies Foundation is pleased to join other supporters in partnership with NSTA to increase the reach and impact of this innovative professional development program,” said Lynn Nixon, global education program manager, Agilent Technologies Foundation. “The Academy is closely aligned with our belief that development and support of science educators is the most effective path to high quality science education that engages and inspires students.”
Fellows selected for the program will receive a comprehensive 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 2009 National Conference on Science Education in New Orleans.
The NSTA New Science Teacher Academy is a component of the Center for Science Education campaign, a five-year $43 million national effort to make excellence in science teaching and learning a reality for all U.S. students. This effort, one of the most significant ever undertaken by NSTA, will fund a body of forward-thinking programs and a state-of-the-art facility designed to promote leadership, learning, and advocacy in science education.
For more information about the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, visit www.nsta.org/academy/.
About NSTA
The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association (www.nsta.org) is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA 's current membership includes more than 57,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.
About The Amgen Foundation
The Amgen Foundation seeks to advance science education; improve patient access to quality care; and strengthen the communities where Amgen staff members live and work. Since 1991, the Foundation has made nearly $110 million in grants to local, regional, and national nonprofit organizations that impact society in inspiring and innovative ways. It has also supported disaster relief efforts both domestically and internationally.
About The Agilent Technologies Foundation
The Agilent Technologies Foundation is a separate, nonprofit organization funded by Agilent Technologies. The Agilent Technologies Foundation supports initiatives that will have a lasting effect in the field of science education around the world. It also funds university research at the frontiers of measurement in electronics, chemical and bio sciences. The Foundation makes pre-selected, Foundation-initiated grants in countries where Agilent is located.
About Astellas Pharma US, Inc.
Astellas Pharma US, Inc., located in Deerfield, Illinois, is a U.S. affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. The organization is committed to becoming a global category leader in focused areas by combining outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities. In the U.S., Astellas markets products in the areas of immunology, urology, anti-infectives, cardiovascular and dermatology. For more information about Astellas Pharma US, Inc., please visit our website.
About Bayer Corporation and Making Science Make Sense
Bayer Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, is a subsidiary of Bayer AG, an international health care, nutrition and innovative materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. In North America, Bayer had 2007 net sales of 8.1 billion euros and employed 16,800 at year end. Bayer’s three subgroups, Bayer HealthCare, Bayer CropScience and Bayer MaterialScience, improve people’s lives through a broad range of essential products that help diagnose, prevent and treat diseases; protect crops and enhance yields; and advance automobile safety and durability.
Formalized in 1995, Making Science Make Sense is Bayer’s award-winning initiative to advances science literacy through hands-on, inquiry-based science learning, employee volunteerism and public education.
Contact Information
Kate Meyer
National Science Teachers Association
kmeyer@nsta.org
(703) 312-9211
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